John, Samuel, & Richard Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CCDDC E C B FFGGHHIICCC B JJKK L M B NN L OOII B MMPP L GQRR B SSPP L AAKKCC B TTUUIIVV L OOWWCCXG B PPYYWWOOGNZZ L PPGGA2A2B2B2C2C2D2D2 B E2E2F2F2GGCCE2E2OOPP L G2 E G2PPB2B2H2H2NN

Time EveningA
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JOHNB
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'Tis a calm pleasant evening the light fades awayC
And the Sun going down has done watch for the dayC
To my mind we live wonderous well when transportedD
It is but to work and we must be supportedD
Fill the cann Dick success here to Botany BayC
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RICHARDE
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Success if you will but God send me awayC
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JOHNB
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Ah you lubberly landsmen don't know when you're wellF
Hadst thou known half the hardships of which I can tellF
The sailor has no place of safety in storeG
From the tempest at sea to the press gang on shoreG
When Roguery rules all the rest of the earthH
God be thanked in this corner I've got a good birthH
Talk of hardships what these are the sailor don't knowI
'Tis the soldier my friend that's acquainted with woeI
Long journeys short halting hard work and small payC
To be popt at like pidgeons for sixpence a dayC
Thank God I'm safe quarter'd at Botany BayC
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JOHNB
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Ah you know but little I'll wager a potJ
I have suffer'd more evils than fell to your lotJ
Come we'll have it all fairly and properly triedK
Tell story for story and Dick shall decideK
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SAMUELL
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DoneM
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JOHNB
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Done 'Tis a wager and I shall be winnerN
Thou wilt go without grog Sam to morrow at dinnerN
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SAMUELL
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I was trapp'd by the Serjeant's palavering pretencesO
He listed me when I was out of my sensesO
So I took leave to day of all care and all sorrowI
And was drill'd to repentance and reason to morrowI
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JOHNB
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I would be a sailor and plough the wide oceanM
And was soon sick and sad with the billow's commotionM
So the Captain he sent me aloft on the mastP
And curs'd me and bid me cry there and hold fastP
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SAMUELL
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After marching all day faint and hungry and soreG
I have lain down at night on the swamps of the moorQ
Unshelter'd and forced by fatigue to remainR
All chill'd by the wind and benumb'd by the rainR
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JOHNB
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I have rode out the storm when the billows beat highS
And the red gleaming lightnings flash'd thro' the dark skyS
When the tempest of night the black sea overcastP
Wet and weary I labour'd yet sung to the blastP
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SAMUELL
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I have march'd trumpets sounding drums beating flags flyingA
Where the music of war drown'd the shrieks of the dyingA
When the shots whizz'd around me all dangers defiedK
Push'd on when my comrades fell dead at my sideK
Drove the foe from the mouth of the Cannon awayC
Fought conquer'd and bled all for sixpence a dayC
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JOHNB
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And I too friend Samuel have heard the shots rattleT
But we seamen rejoice in the play of the battleT
Tho' the chain and the grape shot roll splintering aroundU
With the blood of our messmates tho' slippery the groundU
The fiercer the fight still the fiercer we growI
We heed not our loss so we conquer the foeI
And the hard battle won so the prize be not sunkV
The Captain gets rich and the Sailors get drunkV
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SAMUELL
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God help the poor soldier when backward he goesO
In disgraceful retreat thro' a country of foesO
No respite from danger by day or by nightW
He is still forced to fly still o'ertaken to fightW
Every step that he takes he must battle his wayC
He must force his hard meal from the peasant awayC
No rest and no hope from all succour afarX
God forgive the poor Soldier for going to the warG
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JOHNB
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But what are these dangers to those I have pastP
When the dark billows roar'd to the roar of the blastP
When we work'd at the pumps worn with labour and weakY
And with dread still beheld the increase of the leakY
Sometimes as we rose on the wave could our sightW
From the rocks of the shore catch the light houses lightW
In vain to the beach to assist us they pressO
We fire faster and faster our guns of distressO
Still with rage unabating the wind and waves roarG
How the giddy wreck reels as the billows burst o'erN
Leap leap for she yawns for she sinks in the waveZ
Call on God to preserve for God only can saveZ
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SAMUELL
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There's an end of all troubles however at lastP
And when I in the waggon of wounded was castP
When my wounds with the chilly night wind smarted soreG
And I thought of the friends I should never see moreG
No hand to relieve scarce a morsel of breadA2
Sick at heart I have envied the peace of the deadA2
Left to rot in a jail till by treaty set freeB2
Old England's white cliffs with what joy did I seeB2
I had gain'd enough glory some wounds but no goodC2
And was turn'd on the public to shift how I couldC2
When I think what I've suffer'd and where I am nowD2
I curse him who snared me away from the ploughD2
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JOHNB
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When I was discharged I went home to my wifeE2
There in comfort to spend all the rest of my lifeE2
My wife was industrious we earn'd what we spentF2
And tho' little we had were with little contentF2
And whenever I listen'd and heard the wind roarG
I bless'd God for my little snug cabin on shoreG
At midnight they seiz'd me they dragg'd me awayC
They wounded me sore when I would not obeyC
And because for my country I'd ventur'd my lifeE2
I was dragg'd like a thief from my home and my wifeE2
Then the fair wind of Fortune chopp'd round in my faceO
And Want at length drove me to guilt and disgraceO
But all's for the best on the world's wide sea castP
I am haven'd in peace in this corner at lastP
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SAMUELL
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Come Dick we have done and for judgment we callG2
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RICHARDE
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And in faith I can give ye no judgment at allG2
I've been listening to all the hard labours you've pastP
And think in plain troth you're two blockheads at lastP
My lads where the Deuce was the wit which God gave yeB2
When you sold yourselves first to the army or navyB2
By land and by sea hunting dangers to roamH2
When you might have been hang'd so much easier at homeH2
But you're now snug and settled and safe from foul weatherN
So drink up your grog and be merry togetherN

Robert Southey



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