God's Judgment On A Wicked Bishop Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CDDEE FFGG HIJJ DDKK LLMM LLNO KKPP QQMM LLLFF LLRR FFGG SSPP TTII RRUU DDDD EEIH DDDDVV WWXX| The summer and autumn had been so wet | A |
| That in winter the corn was growing yet | A |
| 'Twas a piteous sight to see all around | B |
| The grain lie rotting on the ground | B |
| - | |
| Every day the starving poor | C |
| Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door | D |
| For he had a plentiful last year's store | D |
| And all the neighbourhood could tell | E |
| His granaries were furnish'd well | E |
| - | |
| At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day | F |
| To quiet the poor without delay | F |
| He bade them to his great Barn repair | G |
| And they should have food for the winter there | G |
| - | |
| Rejoiced such tidings good to hear | H |
| The poor folk flock'd from far and near | I |
| The great barn was full as it could hold | J |
| Of women and children and young and old | J |
| - | |
| Then when he saw it could hold no more | D |
| Bishop Hatto he made fast the door | D |
| And while for mercy on Christ they call | K |
| He set fire to the Barn and burnt them all | K |
| - | |
| I'faith 'tis an excellent bonfire quoth he | L |
| And the country is greatly obliged to me | L |
| For ridding it in these times forlorn | M |
| Of Rats that only consume the corn | M |
| - | |
| So then to his palace returned he | L |
| And he sat down to supper merrily | L |
| And he slept that night like an innocent man | N |
| But Bishop Hatto never slept again | O |
| - | |
| In the morning as he enter'd the hall | K |
| Where his picture hung against the wall | K |
| A sweat like death all over him came | P |
| For the Rats had eaten it out of the frame | P |
| - | |
| As he look'd there came a man from his farm | Q |
| He had a countenance white with alarm | Q |
| My Lord I open'd your granaries this morn | M |
| And the Rats had eaten all your corn | M |
| - | |
| Another came running presently | L |
| And he was pale as pale could be | L |
| Fly my Lord Bishop fly quoth he | L |
| Ten thousand Rats are coming this way | F |
| The Lord forgive you for yesterday | F |
| - | |
| I'll go to my tower on the Rhine replied he | L |
| 'Tis the safest place in Germany | L |
| The walls are high and the shores are steep | R |
| And the stream is strong and the water deep | R |
| - | |
| Bishop Hatto fearfully hasten'd away | F |
| And he crost the Rhine without delay | F |
| And reach'd his tower and barr'd with care | G |
| All the windows doors and loop holes there | G |
| - | |
| He laid him down and closed his eyes | S |
| But soon a scream made him arise | S |
| He started and saw two eyes of flame | P |
| On his pillow from whence the screaming came | P |
| - | |
| He listen'd and look'd it was only the Cat | T |
| And the Bishop he grew more fearful for that | T |
| For she sat screaming mad with fear | I |
| At the Army of Rats that were drawing near | I |
| - | |
| For they have swum over the river so deep | R |
| And they have climb'd the shores so steep | R |
| And up the Tower their way is bent | U |
| To do the work for which they were sent | U |
| - | |
| They are not to be told by the dozen or score | D |
| By thousands they come and by myriads and more | D |
| Such numbers had never been heard of before | D |
| Such a judgment had never been witness'd of yore | D |
| - | |
| Down on his knees the Bishop fell | E |
| And faster and faster his beads did he tell | E |
| As louder and louder drawing near | I |
| The gnawing of their teeth he could hear | H |
| - | |
| And in at the windows and in at the door | D |
| And through the walls helter skelter they pour | D |
| And down from the ceiling and up through the floor | D |
| From the right and the left from behind and before | D |
| From within and without from above and below | V |
| And all at once to the Bishop they go | V |
| - | |
| They have whetted their teeth against the stones | W |
| And now they pick the Bishop's bones | W |
| They gnaw'd the flesh from every limb | X |
| For they were sent to do judgment on him | X |
Robert Southey
(1)
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God's Judgment On A Wicked Bishop is a poem by Robert Southey. This page includes the poem text, poet information, related topics, comments, and similar poems.
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