The Haughty Actor Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABAACB DEDEFFGE HI J KLKLMMNL OLOLPPQL LRLRSATR UBUVWXYV ZRZRLLA2R B2RB2RC2C2D2R ZVZBLLE2B ZF2ZF2ZZZF2 G2RG2RH2H2RR ZZZZLLI2Z FRFRJ2J2G2R K2LK2LL2 L2LFFLAN actor GIBBS of Drury Lane | A |
Of very decent station | B |
Once happened in a part to gain | A |
Excessive approbation | B |
It sometimes turns a fellow's brain | A |
And makes him singularly vain | A |
When he believes that he receives | C |
Tremendous approbation | B |
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His great success half drove him mad | D |
But no one seemed to mind him | E |
Well in another piece he had | D |
Another part assigned him | E |
This part was smaller by a bit | F |
Than that in which he made a hit | F |
So much ill used he straight refused | G |
To play the part assigned him | E |
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THAT NIGHT THAT ACTOR SLEPT AND I'LL ATTEMPT | H |
TO TELL YOU OF THE VIVID DREAM HE DREAMT | I |
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THE DREAM | J |
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In fighting with a robber band | K |
A thing he loved sincerely | L |
A sword struck GIBBS upon the hand | K |
And wounded it severely | L |
At first he didn't heed it much | M |
He thought it was a simple touch | M |
But soon he found the weapon's bound | N |
Had wounded him severely | L |
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To Surgeon COBB he made a trip | O |
Who'd just effected featly | L |
An amputation at the hip | O |
Particularly neatly | L |
A rising man was Surgeon COBB | P |
But this extremely ticklish job | P |
He had achieved as he believed | Q |
Particularly neatly | L |
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The actor rang the surgeon's bell | L |
Observe my wounded finger | R |
Be good enough to strap it well | L |
And prithee do not linger | R |
That I dear sir may fill again | S |
The Theatre Royal Drury Lane | A |
This very night I have to fight | T |
So prithee do not linger | R |
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I don't strap fingers up for doles | U |
Replied the haughty surgeon | B |
To use your cant I don't play ROLES | U |
Utility that verge on | V |
First amputation nothing less | W |
That is my line of business | X |
We surgeon nobs despise all jobs | Y |
Utility that verge on | V |
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When in your hip there lurks disease | Z |
So dreamt this lively dreamer | R |
Or devastating CARIES | Z |
In HUMERUS or FEMUR | R |
If you can pay a handsome fee | L |
Oh then you may remember me | L |
With joy elate I'll amputate | A2 |
Your HUMERUS or FEMUR | R |
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The disconcerted actor ceased | B2 |
The haughty leech to pester | R |
But when the wound in size increased | B2 |
And then began to fester | R |
He sought a learned Counsel's lair | C2 |
And told that Counsel then and there | C2 |
How COBB'S neglect of his defect | D2 |
Had made his finger fester | R |
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Oh bring my action if you please | Z |
The case I pray you urge on | V |
And win me thumping damages | Z |
From COBB that haughty surgeon | B |
He culpably neglected me | L |
Although I proffered him his fee | L |
So pray come down in wig and gown | E2 |
On COBB that haughty surgeon | B |
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That Counsel learned in the laws | Z |
With passion almost trembled | F2 |
He just had gained a mighty cause | Z |
Before the Peers assembled | F2 |
Said he How dare you have the face | Z |
To come with Common Jury case | Z |
To one who wings rhetoric flings | Z |
Before the Peers assembled | F2 |
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Dispirited became our friend | G2 |
Depressed his moral pecker | R |
But stay a thought I'll gain my end | G2 |
And save my poor exchequer | R |
I won't be placed upon the shelf | H2 |
I'll take it into Court myself | H2 |
And legal lore display before | R |
The Court of the Exchequer | R |
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He found a Baron one of those | Z |
Who with our laws supply us | Z |
In wig and silken gown and hose | Z |
As if at NISI PRIUS | Z |
But he'd just given off the reel | L |
A famous judgment on Appeal | L |
It scarce became his heightened fame | I2 |
To sit at NISI PRIUS | Z |
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Our friend began with easy wit | F |
That half concealed his terror | R |
Pooh said the Judge I only sit | F |
In BANCO or in Error | R |
Can you suppose my man that I'd | J2 |
O'er NISI PRIUS Courts preside | J2 |
Or condescend my time to spend | G2 |
On anything but Error | R |
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Too bad said GIBBS my case to shirk | K2 |
You must be bad innately | L |
To save your skill for mighty work | K2 |
Because it's valued greatly | L |
But here he woke with sudden start | L2 |
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He wrote to say he'd play the part | L2 |
I've but to tell he played it well | L |
The author's words his native wit | F |
Combined achieved a perfect hit | F |
The papers praised him greatly | L |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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