The Well Of St. Keyne Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDED BFGF HAIA FJKJ ALML NBLB OFPF QRSR RLAL TBBB UVWV BXAY| A Well there is in the west country | A |
| And a clearer one never was seen | B |
| There is not a wife in the west country | A |
| But has heard of the Well of St Keyne | B |
| - | |
| An oak and an elm tree stand beside | C |
| And behind doth an ash tree grow | D |
| And a willow from the bank above | E |
| Droops to the water below | D |
| - | |
| A traveller came to the Well of St Keyne | B |
| Joyfully he drew nigh | F |
| For from the cock crow he had been travelling | G |
| And there was not a cloud in the sky | F |
| - | |
| He drank of the water so cool and clear | H |
| For thirsty and hot was he | A |
| And he sat down upon the bank | I |
| Under the willow tree | A |
| - | |
| There came a man from the house hard by | F |
| At the Well to fill his pail | J |
| On the Well side he rested it | K |
| And he bade the Stranger hail | J |
| - | |
| Now art thou a bachelor Stranger quoth he | A |
| For an if thou hast a wife | L |
| The happiest draught thou hast drank this day | M |
| That ever thou didst in thy life | L |
| - | |
| Or has thy good woman if one thou hast | N |
| Ever here in Cornwall been | B |
| For an if she have I'll venture my life | L |
| She has drank of the Well of St Keyne | B |
| - | |
| I have left a good woman who never was here | O |
| The Stranger he made reply | F |
| But that my draught should be the better for that | P |
| I pray you answer me why | F |
| - | |
| St Keyne quoth the Cornish man many a time | Q |
| Drank of this crystal Well | R |
| And before the Angel summon'd her | S |
| She laid on the water a spell | R |
| - | |
| If the Husband of this gifted Well | R |
| Shall drink before his Wife | L |
| A happy man thenceforth is he | A |
| For he shall be Master for life | L |
| - | |
| But if the Wife should drink of it first | T |
| God help the Husband then | B |
| The Stranger stoopt to the Well of St Keyne | B |
| And drank of the water again | B |
| - | |
| You drank of the Well I warrant betimes | U |
| He to the Cornish man said | V |
| But the Cornish man smiled as the Stranger spake | W |
| And sheepishly shook his head | V |
| - | |
| I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done | B |
| And left my Wife in the porch | X |
| But i' faith she had been wiser than me | A |
| For she took a bottle to Church | Y |
Robert Southey
(1)
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