A Tale, Founded On A Fact, Which Happened In January 1779 Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDDEEFFGGHHIIJJ KKLLMMNNOPQQGGOORRMM SS| Where Humber pours his rich commercial stream | A |
| There dwelt a wretch who breathed but to blaspheme | A |
| In subterraneous caves his life he led | B |
| Black as the mine in which he wrought for bread | B |
| When on a day emerging from the deep | C |
| A Sabbath day such Sabbaths thousands keep | C |
| The wages of his weekly toil he bore | D |
| To buy a cock whose blood might win him more | D |
| As if the noblest of the feather'd kind | E |
| Were but for battle and for death design'd | E |
| As if the consecrated hours were meant | F |
| For sport to minds on cruelty intent | F |
| It chanced such chances Providence obey | G |
| He met a fellow labourer on the way | G |
| Whose heart the same desires had once inflamed | H |
| But now the savage temper was reclaim'd | H |
| Persuasion on his lips had taken place | I |
| For all plead well who plead the cause of grace | I |
| His iron heart with Scripture he assail'd | J |
| Woo'd him to hear a sermon and prevail'd | J |
| His faithful bow the mighty preacher drew | K |
| Swift as the lightning glimpse the arrow flew | K |
| He wept he trembled cast his eyes around | L |
| To find a worse than he but none he found | L |
| He felt his sins and wonder'd he should feel | M |
| Grace made the wound and grace alone could heal | M |
| Now farewell oaths and blasphemies and lies | N |
| He quits the sinner's for the martyr's prize | N |
| That holy day was wash'd with many a tear | O |
| Gilded with hope yet shaded too by fear | P |
| The next his swarthy brethren of the mine | Q |
| Learn'd by his alter'd speech the change divine | Q |
| Laugh'd when they should have wept and swore the day | G |
| Was nigh when he would swear as fast as they | G |
| No said the penitent such words shall share | O |
| This breath no more devoted now to prayer | O |
| Oh if Thou seest thine eye the future sees | R |
| That I shall yet again blaspheme like these | R |
| Now strike me to the ground on which I kneel | M |
| Ere yet this heart relapses into steel | M |
| Now take me to that heaven I once defied | S |
| Thy presence thy embrace He spoke and died | S |
William Cowper
(1)
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