The Terrible Tale Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABABBB CDCDDD EBEBDD FFFFGG FHFHFF IDIDDD JKJKLL MNMNFF OOPP QQRS TTUU| 'Tis now some thirty seven years ago | A |
| Since first began the plot that I'm revealing | B |
| A fine young woman whom you ought to know | A |
| Lived with her husband down in Drum Lane Ealing | B |
| Herself by means of mangling reimbursing | B |
| And now and then at intervals wet nursing | B |
| - | |
| Two little babes dwelt in their humble cot | C |
| One was her own the other only lent to her | D |
| Her own she slighted Tempted by a lot | C |
| Of gold and silver regularly sent to her | D |
| She ministered unto the little other | D |
| In the capacity of foster mother | D |
| - | |
| I was her own Oh how I lay and sobbed | E |
| In my poor cradle deeply deeply cursing | B |
| The rich man's pampered bantling who had robbed | E |
| My only birthright an attentive nursing | B |
| Sometimes in hatred of my foster brother | D |
| I gnashed my gums which terrified my mother | D |
| - | |
| One day it was quite early in the week | F |
| I in my cradle having placed the bantling | F |
| Crept into his He had not learnt to speak | F |
| But I could see his face with anger mantling | F |
| It was imprudent well disgraceful maybe | G |
| For oh I was a bad blackhearted baby | G |
| - | |
| So great a luxury was food I think | F |
| No wickedness but I was game to try for it | H |
| NOW if I wanted anything to drink | F |
| At any time I only had to cry for it | H |
| ONCE if I dared to weep the bottle lacking | F |
| My blubbering involved a serious smacking | F |
| - | |
| We grew up in the usual way my friend | I |
| My foster brother daily growing thinner | D |
| While gradually I began to mend | I |
| And thrived amazingly on double dinner | D |
| And every one besides my foster mother | D |
| Believed that either of us was the other | D |
| - | |
| I came into his wealth I bore his name | J |
| I bear it still his property I squandered | K |
| I mortgaged everything and now oh shame | J |
| Into a Somers Town shake down I've wandered | K |
| I am no Paley no Vollaire it's true my boy | L |
| The only rightful Paley V is you my boy | L |
| - | |
| And all I have is yours and yours is mine | M |
| I still may place you in your true position | N |
| Give me the pounds you've saved and I'll resign | M |
| My noble name my rank and my condition | N |
| So far my wickedness in falsely owning | F |
| Your vasty wealth I am at last atoning | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| - | |
| Frederick he was a simple soul | O |
| He pulled from his pocket a bulky roll | O |
| And gave to Paley his hard earned store | P |
| A hundred and seventy pounds or more | P |
| - | |
| Paley Vollaire with many a groan | Q |
| Gave Frederick all that he called his own | Q |
| Two shirts and a sock and a vest of jean | R |
| A Wellington boot and a bamboo cane | S |
| - | |
| And Fred entitled to all things there | T |
| He took the fever from Mr Vollaire | T |
| Which killed poor Frederick West Meanwhile | U |
| Vollaire sailed off to Madeira's isle | U |
William Schwenck Gilbert
(1)
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