The Bean-feast Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EFGG HIJJ KKLLMM NNOO PPMM QQPP FFRR SSTT UUUUUU

He was the man Pope Sixtus that Fifth that swineherd's sonA
He knew the right thing did it and thanked God when 't was doneA
But of all he had to thank for my fancy somehow leansB
To thinking what most moved him was a certain meal on beansB
-
For one day as his wont was in just enough disguiseC
As he went exploring wickedness to see with his own eyesC
If law had due observance in the city's entrail darkD
As well as where i' the open crime stood an obvious markD
-
He chanced in a blind alley on a tumble down once houseE
Now hovel vilest structure in Rome the ruinousF
And as his tact impelled him Sixtus adventured boldG
To learn how lowliest subjects bore hunger toil and coldG
-
There sat they at high supper man and wife lad and lassH
Poor as you please but cleanly all and carefree pain that wasI
Forgotten pain as sure to be let bide aloof its timeJ
Mightily munched the brave ones what mattered gloom or grimeJ
-
Said Sixtus Feast my children who works hard needs eat wellK
I'm just a supervisor would hear what you can tellK
Do any wrongs want righting The Father tries his bestL
But since he's only mortal sends such as I to testL
The truth of all that's told him how folk like you may fareM
Come only don't stop eating when mouth has words to spareM
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You smiled he play the spokesman bell wether of the flockN
Are times good masters gentle Your grievances unlockN
How of your work and wages pleasures if such may beO
Pains as such are for certain Thus smiling questioned heO
-
But somehow spite of smiling awe stole upon the groupP
An inexpressible surmise why should a priest thus stoopP
Pry into what concerned folk Each visage fell AwareM
Cries Sixtus interposing Nay children have no careM
-
Fear nothing Who employs me requires the plain truth PelfQ
Beguiles who should inform me so I inform myselfQ
See And he drew his hood back let the close vesture opeP
Showed face and where on tippet the cross lay 't was the PopeP
-
Imagine the joyful wonder How shall the like of usF
Poor souls requite such blessing of our rude bean feast ThusF
Thus amply laughed Pope Sixtus I early rise sleep lateR
Who works may eat they tempt me your beans there spare a plateR
-
Down sat he on the door step 'twas they this time said graceS
He ate up the last mouthful wiped lips and then with faceS
Turned heavenward broke forth thankful Not now that earth obeysT
Thy word in mine that through me the peoples know Thy waysT
-
But that Thy care extendeth to Nature's homely wantsU
And while man's mind is strengthened Thy goodness nowise scantsU
Man's body of its cumlort that I whom kings and queensU
Crouch to pick crumbs from off my table reiish beansU
The thunders I but seem to launch there plain Thy hand all seeU
That I have appetite digest and thrive that boon's for meU

Robert Browning



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