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 XACA

Some time ago in simple verseA
I sang the story trueB
Of CAPTAIN REECE the MANTELPIECEA
And all her happy crewB
-
I showed how any captain mayC
Attach his men to himD
If he but heeds their smallest needsA
And studies every whimD
-
Now mark how by Draconic ruleE
And HAUTEUR ill advisedF
The noblest crew upon the BlueB
May be demoralizedF
-
When his ungrateful country placedG
Kind REECE upon half payC
Without much claim SIR BERKELY cameH
And took command one dayC
-
SIR BERKELY was a martinetC
A stern unyielding soulI
Who ruled his ship by dint of whipJ
And horrible black holeI
-
A sailor who was overcomeK
From having freely dinedC
And chanced to reel when at the wheelL
He instantly confinedC
-
And tars who when an action ragedC
Appeared alarmed or scaredC
And those below who wished to goM
He very seldom sparedC
-
E'en he who smote his officerN
For punishment was bookedC
And mutinies upon the seasA
He rarely overlookedC
-
In short the happy MANTELPIECEA
Where all had gone so wellO
Beneath that fool SIR BERKELY'S ruleE
Became a floating hellO
-
When first SIR BERKELY came aboardC
He read a speech to allP
And told them how he'd made a vowQ
To act on duty's callP
-
Then WILLIAM LEE he up and saidC
The Captain's coxswain heR
We've heard the speech your honour's madeC
And werry pleased we beR
-
We won't pretend my lad as howQ
We're glad to lose our REECEA
Urbane polite he suited quiteC
The saucy MANTELPIECEA
-
But if your honour gives your mindC
To study all our waysA
With dance and song we'll jog alongS
As in those happy daysA
-
I like your honour's looks and feelL
You're worthy of your swordC
Your hand my lad I'm doosid gladC
To welcome you aboardC
-
SIR BERKELY looked amazed as thoughM
He didn't understandC
Don't shake your head good WILLIAM saidC
It is an honest handC
-
It's grasped a better hand than yournT
Come gov'nor I insistC
The Captain stared the coxswain glaredC
The hand became a fistC
-
Down upstart said the hardy saltC
But BERKELY dodged his aimH
And made him go in chains belowM
The seamen murmured ShameH
-
He stopped all songs at p mU
Stopped hornpipes when at seaA
And swore his cot or bunk should notC
Be used by aught than heA
-
He never joined their daily messA
Nor asked them to his ownT
But chaffed in gay and social wayC
The officers aloneT
-
His First Lieutenant PETER wasA
As useless as could beA
A helpless stick and always sickV
When there was any seaA
-
This First Lieutenant proved to beA
His foster sister MAYC
Who went to sea for love of heA
In masculine arrayC
-
And when he learnt the curious factC
Did he emotion showM
Or dry her tears or end her fearsA
By marrying her NoM
-
Or did he even try to sootheW
This maiden in her teensA
Oh no instead he made her wedC
The Sergeant of MarinesA
-
Of course such Spartan disciplineT
Would make an angel fretC
They drew a lot and WILLIAM shotC
This fearful martinetC
-
The Admiralty saw how illX
They'd treated CAPTAIN REECEA
He was restored once more aboardC
The saucy MANTELPIECEA

William Schwenck Gilbert



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