Norman And Saxon Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABC DDEE FFGG HHII JJKK LL K| My son quot said the Norman Baron quot I am dying and you will be heir | A |
| To all the broad acres in England that William gave me for my share | A |
| When we conquered the Saxon at Hastings and a nice little handful it is | B |
| But before you go over to rule it I want you to understand this | C |
| - | |
| quot The Saxon is not like us Normans His manners are not so polite | D |
| But he never means anything serious till he talks about justice and right | D |
| When he stands like an ox in the furrow with his sullen set eyes on your own | E |
| And grumbles quot This isn't fair dealings quot my son leave the Saxon alone | E |
| - | |
| quot You can horsewhip your Gascony archers or torture your Picardy spears | F |
| But don't try that game on the Saxon you'll have the whole brood round your ears | F |
| From the richest old Thane in the county to the poorest chained serf in the field | G |
| They'll be at you and on you like hornets and if you are wise you will yield | G |
| - | |
| quot But first you must master their language their dialect proverbs and songs | H |
| Don't trust any clerk to interpret when they come with the tale of their wrongs | H |
| Let them know that you know what they're saying let them feel that you know what to say | I |
| Yes even when you want to go hunting hear 'em out if it takes you all day | I |
| - | |
| quot They'll drink every hour of the daylight and poach every hour of the dark | J |
| It's the sport not the rabbits they 're after we 've plenty of game in the park | J |
| Don't hang them or cut off their fingers That's wasteful as well as unkind | K |
| For a hard bitten South country poacher makes the best man at arms you can find | K |
| - | |
| quot Appear with your wife and the children at their weddings and funerals and feasts | L |
| Be polite but not friendly to Bishops be good to all poor parish priests | L |
| Say 'we ' 'us' and 'ours' when you're talking instead of 'you fellows' and 'I ' | - |
| Don't ride over seeds keep your temper and never you tell 'em a lie quot | K |
Rudyard Kipling
(3)
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