Damages, Two Hundred Pounds Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCCC BDDDD EEEE FFGG HHEE IIJJ KKLL MMNNN OOPQRQ ESEE TENSUU DDDV DDNN NNDD| Special Jurymen of England who admire your country's laws | A |
| And proclaim a British Jury worthy of the realm's applause | A |
| Gayly compliment each other at the issue of a cause | B |
| Which was tried at Guildford 'sizes this day week as ever was | B |
| - | |
| Unto that august tribunal comes a gentleman in grief | C |
| Special was the British Jury and the Judge the Baron Chief | C |
| Comes a British man and husband asking of the law relief | C |
| For his wife was stolen from him he'd have vengeance on the thief | C |
| - | |
| Yes his wife the blessed treasure with the which his life was | B |
| crowned | D |
| Wickedly was ravished from him by a hypocrite profound | D |
| And he comes before twelve Britons men for sense and truth renowned | D |
| To award him for his damage twenty hundred sterling pound | D |
| - | |
| He by counsel and attorney there at Guildford does appear | E |
| Asking damage of the villain who seduced his lady dear | E |
| But I can't help asking though the lady's guilt was all too clear | E |
| And though guilty the defendant wasn't the plaintiff rather queer | E |
| - | |
| First the lady's mother spoke and said she'd seen her daughter cry | F |
| But a fortnight after marriage early times for piping eye | F |
| Six months after things were worse and the piping eye was black | G |
| And this gallant British husband caned his wife upon the back | G |
| - | |
| Three months after they were married husband pushed her to the door | H |
| Told her to be off and leave him for he wanted her no more | H |
| As she would not go why HE went thrice he left his lady dear | E |
| Left her too without a penny for more than a quarter of a year | E |
| - | |
| Mrs Frances Duncan knew the parties very well indeed | I |
| She had seen him pull his lady's nose and make her lip to bleed | I |
| If he chanced to sit at home not a single word he said | J |
| Once she saw him throw the cover of a dish at his lady's head | J |
| - | |
| Sarah Green another witness clear did to the jury note | K |
| How she saw this honest fellow seize his lady by the throat | K |
| How he cursed her and abused her beating her into a fit | L |
| Till the pitying next door neighbors crossed the wall and witnessed it | L |
| - | |
| Next door to this injured Briton Mr Owers a butcher dwelt | M |
| Mrs Owers's foolish heart towards this erring dame did melt | M |
| Not that she had erred as yet crime was not developed in her | N |
| But being left without a penny Mrs Owers supplied her dinner | N |
| God be merciful to Mrs Owers who was merciful to this sinner | N |
| - | |
| Caroline Naylor was their servant said they led a wretched life | O |
| Saw this most distinguished Briton fling a teacup at his wife | O |
| He went out to balls and pleasures and never once in ten months' | P |
| space | Q |
| Sat with his wife or spoke her kindly This was the defendant's | R |
| case | Q |
| - | |
| Pollock C B charged the Jury said the woman's guilt was clear | E |
| That was not the point however which the Jury came to hear | S |
| But the damage to determine which as it should true appear | E |
| This most tender hearted husband who so used his lady dear | E |
| - | |
| Beat her kicked her caned her cursed her left her starving | T |
| year by year | E |
| Flung her from him parted from her wrung her neck and boxed her | N |
| ear | S |
| What the reasonable damage this afflicted man could claim | U |
| By the loss of the affections of this guilty graceless dame | U |
| - | |
| Then the honest British Twelve to each other turning round | D |
| Laid their clever heads together with a wisdom most profound | D |
| And towards his Lordship looking spoke the foreman wise and sound | D |
| 'My Lord we find for this here plaintiff damages two hundred | V |
| pound ' | - |
| - | |
| So God bless the Special Jury pride and joy of English ground | D |
| And the happy land of England where true justice does abound | D |
| British jurymen and husbands let us hail this verdict proper | N |
| If a British wife offends you Britons you've a right to whop her | N |
| - | |
| Though you promised to protect her though you promised to defend her | N |
| You are welcome to neglect her to the devil you may send her | N |
| You may strike her curse abuse her so declares our law renowned | D |
| And if after this you lose her why you're paid two hundred pound | D |
William Makepeace Thackeray
(1)
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