Oberon's Chapel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHIJJJJ JKLMMNNJJJJMGOPJJ QQJJ PRJJGMSTJJJJKKMMUUVV VVWWVVJJJJVVVVVJJJJX LYYVVYYJJJJVVJJGVJJV VJJYVGJZZJJJJMMJJVVV VA2B2JJJJJJJJVVJJVV

A way enhanced with glass and beadsA
There is that to the Chapel leadsA
Whose structure for his holy restB
Is here the Halcyon's curious nestB
Into the which who looks shall seeC
His Temple of IdolatryC
Where he of god heads has such storeD
As Rome's Pantheon had not moreD
His house of Rimmon this he callsE
Girt with small bones instead of wallsE
First in a niche more black than jetF
His idol cricket there is setF
Then in a polish'd oval byG
There stands his idol beetle flyG
Next in an arch akin to thisH
His idol canker seated isI
Then in a round is placed by theseJ
His golden god CantharidesJ
So that where'er ye look ye seeJ
No capital no cornice freeJ
Or frieze from this fine fripperyJ
Now this the Fairies would have knownK
Theirs is a mixt religionL
And some have heard the elves it callM
Part Pagan part PapisticalM
If unto me all tongues were grantedN
I could not speak the saints here paintedN
Saint Tit Saint Nit Saint Is Saint ItisJ
Who 'gainst Mab's state placed here right isJ
Saint Will o' th' Wisp of no great bignessJ
But alias call'd here FATUUS IGNISJ
Saint Frip Saint Trip Saint Fill Saint FillyM
Neither those other saint ships will IG
Here go about for to reciteO
Their number almost infiniteP
Which one by one here set down areJ
In this most curious calendarJ
-
First at the entrance of the gateQ
A little puppet priest doth waitQ
Who squeaks to all the comers thereJ
'Favour your tongues who enter hereJ
'Pure hands bring hither without stain '-
A second pules 'Hence hence profane '-
Hard by i' th' shell of half a nutP
The holy water there is putR
A little brush of squirrels' hairsJ
Composed of odd not even pairsJ
Stands in the platter or close byG
To purge the fairy familyM
Near to the altar stands the priestS
There offering up the holy gristT
Ducking in mood and perfect tenseJ
With much good do't him reverenceJ
The altar is not here four squareJ
Nor in a form triangularJ
Nor made of glass or wood or stoneK
But of a little transverse boneK
Which boys and bruckel'd children callM
Playing for points and pins cockallM
Whose linen drapery is a thinU
Sub ile and ductile codling's skinU
Which o'er the board is smoothly spreadV
With little seal work damaskedV
The fringe that circumbinds it tooV
Is spangle work of trembling dewV
Which gently gleaming makes a showW
Like frost work glitt'ring on the snowW
Upon this fetuous board doth standV
Something for shew bread and at handV
Just in the middle of the altarJ
Upon an end the Fairy psalterJ
Graced with the trout flies' curious wingsJ
Which serve for watchet ribboningsJ
Now we must know the elves are ledV
Right by the Rubric which they readV
And if report of them be trueV
They have their text for what they doV
Ay and their book of canons tooV
And as Sir Thomas Parson tellsJ
They have their book of articlesJ
And if that Fairy knight not liesJ
They have their book of homiliesJ
And other Scriptures that designX
A short but righteous disciplineL
The bason stands the board uponY
To take the free oblationY
A little pin dust which they holdV
More precious than we prize our goldV
Which charity they give to manyY
Poor of the parish if there's anyY
Upon the ends of these neat railsJ
Hatch'd with the silver light of snailsJ
The elves in formal manner fixJ
Two pure and holy candlesticksJ
In either which a tall small bentV
Burns for the altar's ornamentV
For sanctity they have to theseJ
Their curious copes and surplicesJ
Of cleanest cobweb hanging byG
In their religious vesteryV
They have their ash pans and their broomsJ
To purge the chapel and the roomsJ
Their many mumbling mass priests hereV
And many a dapper choristerV
Their ush'ring vergers here likewiseJ
Their canons and their chaunteriesJ
Of cloister monks they have enowY
Ay and their abbey lubbers tooV
And if their legend do not lieG
They much affect the papacyJ
And since the last is dead there's hopeZ
Elve Boniface shall next be PopeZ
They have their cups and chalicesJ
Their pardons and indulgencesJ
Their beads of nits bells books and waxJ
Candles forsooth and other knacksJ
Their holy oil their fasting spittleM
Their sacred salt here not a littleM
Dry chips old shoes rags grease and bonesJ
Beside their fumigationsJ
Many a trifle too and trinketV
And for what use scarce man would think itV
Next then upon the chanter's sideV
An apple's core is hung up driedV
With rattling kernels which is rungA2
To call to morn and even songB2
The saint to which the most he praysJ
And offers incense nights and daysJ
The lady of the lobster isJ
Whose foot pace he doth stroke and kissJ
And humbly chives of saffron bringsJ
For his most cheerful offeringsJ
When after these he's paid his vowsJ
He lowly to the altar bowsJ
And then he dons the silk worm's shedV
Like a Turk's turban on his headV
And reverently departeth thenceJ
Hid in a cloud of frankincenseJ
And by the glow worm's light well guidedV
Goes to the Feast that's now providedV

Robert Herrick



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