Hanchen, The Maid Of The Mill Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCC DDEE FFGH GHII IIJJ KKLL MMCC NNOO PQCC QPCC RRMM SSTT UUVV VVFF SSVV WWXY ZZA2A2 FFHG CCB2B2 C2C2D2D2| Near the village of Udorf on the banks of the Rhine | A |
| There lived a miller and his family once on a time | B |
| And there yet stands the mill in a state of decay | C |
| And concerning the miller and his family attend to my lay | C |
| - | |
| The miller and his family went to Church one Sunday morn | D |
| Leaving behind their darling child the youngest born | D |
| In charge of brave Hanchen the servant maid | E |
| A kind hearted girl and not the least afraid | E |
| - | |
| As Hanchen was engaged preparing dinner for the family | F |
| She chanced to turn round and there she did see | F |
| Heinrich Bottler her lover and she sincerely loved him | G |
| Then she instantly got him something to eat and bade him begin | H |
| - | |
| And in the midst of her business she sat down beside him | G |
| While he did justice to the meat and thought it no sin | H |
| But while he was eating he let fall his knife | I |
| Then he commanded Hanchen to pick it up or else he'd take her life | I |
| - | |
| Then as she stooped down to pick up the knife | I |
| The villain caught her by the throat and swore he'd take her life | I |
| Then he drew a dagger from under his coat | J |
| Crying tell me where your master's money is or I'll cut your throat | J |
| - | |
| And still he threatened to kill her with the dagger in his hand | K |
| If the poor girl didn't comply with his demand | K |
| While in his choking grasp her breath was fleeting faster and faster | L |
| Therefore she had no other choice but to die or betray her master | L |
| - | |
| Then she cried mercy for Heaven's sake let go thy hold | M |
| And I'll tell thee where my master keeps his gold | M |
| Then he let go his hold without delay | C |
| And she unto him thus boldly did say | C |
| - | |
| Here take this axe and use it while I run upstairs | N |
| To gather all my money besides all my wares | N |
| Because I'm resolved to fly along with you | O |
| When you've robbed my master of his gold and bid France adieu | O |
| - | |
| Then deceived by her plan he allowed her to leave the room | P |
| Telling her to make haste and come back very soon | Q |
| Then to her master's bedroom she led the way | C |
| And showed him the coffer where her master's money lay | C |
| - | |
| Then Heinrich with the axe broke the coffer very soon | Q |
| While Hanchen instead of going upstairs to her room | P |
| Bolted all the doors upon him without dismay | C |
| While Heinrich was busy preparing to carry her master's money away | C |
| - | |
| Then she rushed to the mill to give the alarm | R |
| Resolved to protect her master's money while she could wield an arm | R |
| And the only being in sight was her master's boy of five years old | M |
| Then she cried run run and tell father there's a robber taking his gold | M |
| - | |
| Then the boy did as she bid him without any doubt | S |
| And set off running on the road she pointed out | S |
| But at this moment a shrill whistle made her stand aghast | T |
| When she heard Heinrich crying catch that child that's running so fast | T |
| - | |
| But still the boy ran on with might and main | U |
| Until a ruffian sprang up from the bed of a natural drain | U |
| And snatching the boy in his arms and hastening towards the mill | V |
| While brave Hanchen was afraid the boy would he kill | V |
| - | |
| Then the villain came rushing with the boy towards the mill | V |
| Crying open the door or the child I'll kill | V |
| But she cried never will I open the door to thee | F |
| No I will put my trust in God and He'll save the child and me | F |
| - | |
| Then the ruffian set down the child for a moment to look about | S |
| Crying open the door or I'll fire the mill without doubt | S |
| And while searching for combustibles he discovered an inlet to the mill | V |
| Saying my pretty maid once I get in it's you I will kill | V |
| - | |
| Then he tied the hands and feet of the poor child | W |
| Which caused it to scream with fear very wild | W |
| Then he stole back to the aperture to effect an entrance | X |
| And when Hanchen saw him she said now is my chance | Y |
| - | |
| So the ruffian got safely in the great drum wheel | Z |
| Then Hanchen set on the engine which made the ruffian reel | Z |
| And as he was whirled about he screamed aloud | A2 |
| And when Hanchen saw him like a rat in a trap she felt very proud | A2 |
| - | |
| At length the master arrived and his family | F |
| And when she heard his kindly voice her heart was full of glee | F |
| Then she opened the mill door and let him in | H |
| While her eyes with tears of joy were full to the brim | G |
| - | |
| Then the master set off the engine without delay | C |
| And the ruffian was dragged forth while he shook with dismay | C |
| And Heinrich and he were bound together under a strong escort | B2 |
| And conveyed to Bonn Prison where villains resort | B2 |
| - | |
| So thus ends the story of Hanchen a heroine brave | C2 |
| That tried hard her master's gold to save | C2 |
| And for her bravery she got married to the miller's eldest son | D2 |
| And Hanchen on her marriage night cried Heaven's will be done | D2 |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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