The Reverend Simon Magus Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EEFG HHII HHJJ KKLL MMDD NNOO PPQQ RSTU VWXX YYZZ A2A2YY DDB2B2 YYPP YYC2C2 FGD2D2 HPE2E2 PPHH F2F2G2H2 I2I2PP EEZZ LLZZ PPZZA rich advowson highly prized | A |
For private sale was advertised | A |
And many a parson made a bid | B |
The REVEREND SIMON MAGUS did | B |
- | |
He sought the agent's Agent I | C |
Have come prepared at once to buy | C |
If your demand is not too big | D |
The Cure of Otium cum Digge | D |
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Ah said the agent THERE'S a berth | E |
The snuggest vicarage on earth | E |
No sort of duty so I hear | F |
And fifteen hundred pounds a year | G |
- | |
If on the price we should agree | H |
The living soon will vacant be | H |
The good incumbent's ninety five | I |
And cannot very long survive | I |
- | |
See here's his photograph you see | H |
He's in his dotage Ah dear me | H |
Poor soul said SIMON His decease | J |
Would be a merciful release | J |
- | |
The agent laughed the agent blinked | K |
The agent blew his nose and winked | K |
And poked the parson's ribs in play | L |
It was that agent's vulgar way | L |
- | |
The REVEREND SIMON frowned I grieve | M |
This light demeanour to perceive | M |
It's scarcely COMME IL FAUT I think | D |
Now pray oblige me do not wink | D |
- | |
Don't dig my waistcoat into holes | N |
Your mission is to sell the souls | N |
Of human sheep and human kids | O |
To that divine who highest bids | O |
- | |
Do well in this and on your head | P |
Unnumbered honours will be shed | P |
The agent said Well truth to tell | Q |
I HAVE been doing very well | Q |
- | |
You should said SIMON at your age | R |
But now about the parsonage | S |
How many rooms does it contain | T |
Show me the photograph again | U |
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A poor apostle's humble house | V |
Must not be too luxurious | W |
No stately halls with oaken floor | X |
It should be decent and no more | X |
- | |
No billiard rooms no stately trees | Y |
No croquet grounds or pineries | Y |
Ah sighed the agent very true | Z |
This property won't do for you | Z |
- | |
All these about the house you'll find | A2 |
Well said the parson never mind | A2 |
I'll manage to submit to these | Y |
Luxurious superfluities | Y |
- | |
A clergyman who does not shirk | D |
The various calls of Christian work | D |
Will have no leisure to employ | B2 |
These 'common forms' of worldly joy | B2 |
- | |
To preach three times on Sabbath days | Y |
To wean the lost from wicked ways | Y |
The sick to soothe the sane to wed | P |
The poor to feed with meat and bread | P |
- | |
These are the various wholesome ways | Y |
In which I'll spend my nights and days | Y |
My zeal will have no time to cool | C2 |
At croquet archery or pool | C2 |
- | |
The agent said From what I hear | F |
This living will not suit I fear | G |
There are no poor no sick at all | D2 |
For services there is no call | D2 |
- | |
The reverend gent looked grave Dear me | H |
Then there is NO 'society' | P |
I mean of course no sinners there | E2 |
Whose souls will be my special care | E2 |
- | |
The cunning agent shook his head | P |
No none except the agent said | P |
The DUKE OF A the EARL OF B | H |
The MARQUIS C and VISCOUNT D | H |
- | |
But you will not be quite alone | F2 |
For though they've chaplains of their own | F2 |
Of course this noble well bred clan | G2 |
Receive the parish clergyman | H2 |
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Oh silence sir said SIMON M | I2 |
Dukes Earls What should I care for them | I2 |
These worldly ranks I scorn and flout | P |
Of course the agent said no doubt | P |
- | |
Yet I might show these men of birth | E |
The hollowness of rank on earth | E |
The agent answered Very true | Z |
But I should not if I were you | Z |
- | |
Who sells this rich advowson pray | L |
The agent winked it was his way | L |
His name is HART 'twixt me and you | Z |
He is I'm grieved to say a Jew | Z |
- | |
A Jew said SIMON happy find | P |
I purchase this advowson mind | P |
My life shall be devoted to | Z |
Converting that unhappy Jew | Z |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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