The Children In The Wood Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABACDCD EFEFGHIH JKLKMNON FPKQKEORM FSNTBUQFQ EVMW NFXF EFYZ A2B2 B2 EC2D2E2NF2EN E2G2E2E2E2E2QE2Q E2H2I2J2K2L2UM2U E2E2IHIE2QE2Q E2N2O2P2O2Q2R2S2R2 E2Q2EQ2EQ2D2Q2N EQ2ES2ET2PQ2 EQ2M2SM2E2Q2Q2Q2 EE2EQ2ED2E2E2E2 EQ2U2E2U2Q2Q2Q2Q2 EV2EQ2E2Q2Q2Q2Q2 E2Q2W2EW2X2Q2L2Q2 E2Q2Y2E2Y2Z2Q2E2Q2

hall writeA
A doleful story you shall hearB
In time brought forth to lightA
A gentleman of good accountC
In Norfolk dwelt of lateD
Who did in honour far surmountC
Most men of his estateD
-
II-
Sore sick he was and like to dieE
No help his life could saveF
His wife by him as sick did lieE
And both possest one graveF
No love between these two was lostG
Each was to other kindH
In love they lived in love they diedI
And left two babes behindH
-
III-
The one a fine and pretty boyJ
Not passing three years oldK
The other a girl more young than heL
And framed in beauty's mouldK
The father left his little sonM
As plainly did appearN
When he to perfect age should comeO
Three hundred pounds a yearN
-
IVF
And to his little daughter JaneP
Five hundred pounds in goldK
To be paid down on marriage dayQ
Which might not be controll'dK
But if the children chanced to dieE
Ere they to age should comeO
Their uncle should possess their wealthR
For so the will did runM
-
VF
Now brother ' said the dying manS
Look to my children dearN
Be good unto my boy and girlT
No friends else have they hereB
To God and you I recommendU
My children dear this dayQ
But little while be sure we haveF
Within this world to stayQ
-
VIE
You must be father and mother bothV
And uncle all in oneM
God knows what will become of themW
When I am dead and gone '-
With that bespake their mother dearN
O brother kind ' quoth sheF
You are the man must bring our babesX
To wealth or miseryF
-
VIIE
And if you keep them carefullyF
Then God will you rewardY
But if you otherwise should dealZ
God will your deeds regard '-
With lips as cold as any stoneA2
They kiss'd their children smallB2
God bless you both my children dear '-
With that the tears did fallB2
-
VIIIE
These speeches then their brother spakeC2
To this sick couple thereD2
The keeping of your little onesE2
Sweet sister do not fearN
God never prosper me nor mineF2
Nor aught else that I haveE
If I do wrong your children dearN
When you are laid in grave '-
-
IXE2
The parents being dead and goneG2
The children home he takesE2
And brings them straight unto his houseE2
Where much of them he makesE2
He had not kept these pretty babesE2
A twelvemonth and a dayQ
But for their wealth he did deviseE2
To make them both awayQ
-
XE2
He bargain'd with two ruffians strongH2
Which were of furious moodI2
That they should take these children youngJ2
And slay them in a woodK2
He told his wife an artful taleL2
He would the children sendU
To be brought up in London townM2
With one that was his friendU
-
XIE2
Away then went those pretty babesE2
Rejoicing at that tideI
Rejoicing with a merry mindH
They should on cock horse rideI
They prate and prattle pleasantlyE2
As they ride on the wayQ
To those that should their butchers beE2
And work their lives' decayQ
-
XIIE2
So that the pretty speech they hadN2
Made Murder's heart relentO2
And they that undertook the deedP2
Full sore did now repentO2
Yet one of them more hard of heartQ2
Did vow to do his chargeR2
Because the wretch that hir d himS2
Had paid him very largeR2
-
XIIIE2
The other won't agree theretoQ2
So here they fall to strifeE
With one another they did fightQ2
About the children's lifeE
And he that was of mildest moodQ2
Did slay the other thereD2
Within an unfrequented woodQ2
The babes did quake for fearN
-
XIVE
He took the children by the handQ2
Tears standing in their eyeE
And bade them straightway follow himS2
And look they did not cryE
And two long miles he led them onT2
While they for food complainP
Stay here ' quoth he I'll bring you breadQ2
When I come back again '-
-
XVE
These pretty babes with hand in handQ2
Went wandering up and downM2
But never more could see the manS
Approaching from the townM2
Their pretty lips with blackberriesE2
Were all besmear'd and dyedQ2
And when they saw the darksome nightQ2
They sat them down and criedQ2
-
XVIE
Thus wander'd these poor innocentsE2
Till death did end their griefE
In one another's arms they diedQ2
As wanting due reliefE
No burial this pretty pairD2
From any man receivesE2
Till Robin Redbreast piouslyE2
Did cover them with leavesE2
-
XVIIE
And now the heavy wrath of GodQ2
Upon their uncle fellU2
Yea fearful fiends did haunt his houseE2
His conscience felt an hellU2
His barns were fired his goods consumedQ2
His lands were barren madeQ2
His cattle died within the fieldQ2
And nothing with him stay'dQ2
-
XVIIIE
And in a voyage to PortugalV2
Two of his sons did dieE
And to conclude himself was broughtQ2
To want and miseryE2
He pawn'd and mortgaged all his landQ2
Ere seven years came aboutQ2
And now at last his wicked actQ2
Did by this means come outQ2
-
XIXE2
The fellow that did take in handQ2
These children for to killW2
Was for a robbery judged to dieE
Such was God's blessed willW2
Who did confess the very truthX2
As here hath been display'dQ2
The uncle having died in jailL2
Where he for debt was laidQ2
-
XXE2
You that executors be madeQ2
And overse rs ekeY2
Of children that be fatherlessE2
And infants mild and meekY2
Take you example by this thingZ2
And yield to each his rightQ2
Lest God with suchlike miseryE2
Your wicked minds requiteQ2

Sir Arthur Quiller-couch



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