The Martinet Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDAD EFBF GCHC CIJI KCLC CCMC NCAC AOEO CPQP CRCR QACA CASA LCCC MCCC TCCC CHMH UACA ATCT AAVA ACAC CMAM WACA TCCC XACASome time ago in simple verse | A |
I sang the story true | B |
Of CAPTAIN REECE the MANTELPIECE | A |
And all her happy crew | B |
- | |
I showed how any captain may | C |
Attach his men to him | D |
If he but heeds their smallest needs | A |
And studies every whim | D |
- | |
Now mark how by Draconic rule | E |
And HAUTEUR ill advised | F |
The noblest crew upon the Blue | B |
May be demoralized | F |
- | |
When his ungrateful country placed | G |
Kind REECE upon half pay | C |
Without much claim SIR BERKELY came | H |
And took command one day | C |
- | |
SIR BERKELY was a martinet | C |
A stern unyielding soul | I |
Who ruled his ship by dint of whip | J |
And horrible black hole | I |
- | |
A sailor who was overcome | K |
From having freely dined | C |
And chanced to reel when at the wheel | L |
He instantly confined | C |
- | |
And tars who when an action raged | C |
Appeared alarmed or scared | C |
And those below who wished to go | M |
He very seldom spared | C |
- | |
E'en he who smote his officer | N |
For punishment was booked | C |
And mutinies upon the seas | A |
He rarely overlooked | C |
- | |
In short the happy MANTELPIECE | A |
Where all had gone so well | O |
Beneath that fool SIR BERKELY'S rule | E |
Became a floating hell | O |
- | |
When first SIR BERKELY came aboard | C |
He read a speech to all | P |
And told them how he'd made a vow | Q |
To act on duty's call | P |
- | |
Then WILLIAM LEE he up and said | C |
The Captain's coxswain he | R |
We've heard the speech your honour's made | C |
And werry pleased we be | R |
- | |
We won't pretend my lad as how | Q |
We're glad to lose our REECE | A |
Urbane polite he suited quite | C |
The saucy MANTELPIECE | A |
- | |
But if your honour gives your mind | C |
To study all our ways | A |
With dance and song we'll jog along | S |
As in those happy days | A |
- | |
I like your honour's looks and feel | L |
You're worthy of your sword | C |
Your hand my lad I'm doosid glad | C |
To welcome you aboard | C |
- | |
SIR BERKELY looked amazed as though | M |
He didn't understand | C |
Don't shake your head good WILLIAM said | C |
It is an honest hand | C |
- | |
It's grasped a better hand than yourn | T |
Come gov'nor I insist | C |
The Captain stared the coxswain glared | C |
The hand became a fist | C |
- | |
Down upstart said the hardy salt | C |
But BERKELY dodged his aim | H |
And made him go in chains below | M |
The seamen murmured Shame | H |
- | |
He stopped all songs at p m | U |
Stopped hornpipes when at sea | A |
And swore his cot or bunk should not | C |
Be used by aught than he | A |
- | |
He never joined their daily mess | A |
Nor asked them to his own | T |
But chaffed in gay and social way | C |
The officers alone | T |
- | |
His First Lieutenant PETER was | A |
As useless as could be | A |
A helpless stick and always sick | V |
When there was any sea | A |
- | |
This First Lieutenant proved to be | A |
His foster sister MAY | C |
Who went to sea for love of he | A |
In masculine array | C |
- | |
And when he learnt the curious fact | C |
Did he emotion show | M |
Or dry her tears or end her fears | A |
By marrying her No | M |
- | |
Or did he even try to soothe | W |
This maiden in her teens | A |
Oh no instead he made her wed | C |
The Sergeant of Marines | A |
- | |
Of course such Spartan discipline | T |
Would make an angel fret | C |
They drew a lot and WILLIAM shot | C |
This fearful martinet | C |
- | |
The Admiralty saw how ill | X |
They'd treated CAPTAIN REECE | A |
He was restored once more aboard | C |
The saucy MANTELPIECE | A |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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