Jack O' The Cudgel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCC DDEE FFGG GGFF HHGG DIFF AAFF JJCC KKLL HHFF MMFF GGFF FFFF FFFF GGGG GGGG GGGG HHFF A FFGG FFFF NOPP CQFF FFKK FFHR FFFF GGFF SSTT FFUU HHHH VVDW UUXX FFUU| Part I | A |
| - | |
| 'Twas in the famous town of Windsor on a fine summer morn | B |
| Where the sign of Windsor Castle did a tavern adorn | B |
| And there sat several soldiers drinking together | C |
| Resolved to make merry in spite of wind or weather | C |
| - | |
| And old Simon the landlord was at the head of the table | D |
| Cutting slices of beef as quick as he was able | D |
| And one of the soldiers was of rather superior rank | E |
| And on his dress trinkets of gold and silver together did clank | E |
| - | |
| He was a free companion but surly and hard | F |
| And a soldier of fortune and was named Croquard | F |
| And he had all the appearance of his martial calling | G |
| But on this particular morning he was rudely bawling | G |
| - | |
| So the other soldiers laughed for their spirits felt gay | G |
| And they applauded his jokes and let him have his own way | G |
| Because he could command as desperate a gang of men as any in the world | F |
| So many a joke and slur at the soldiers he hurled | F |
| - | |
| And the mirth increased as the day wore on | H |
| And Croquard didn't seem the least woe begone | H |
| But as he was trolling out a very merry song | G |
| A wandering minstrel sat down beside him and thought it no wrong | G |
| - | |
| By my troth shouted Croquard Come here minstrel | D |
| And give us a stave of love or war which is my will | I |
| But the minstrel didn' t appear to comply with this request | F |
| And he tried to withdraw as he thought it was best | F |
| - | |
| Ho didst thou hear me varlet then Croquard did cry | A |
| Oh gentle sir replied the minstrel I cannot with your wish comply | A |
| Believe me I sing best to the ladies at the court | F |
| And in doing so find it more profitable sport | F |
| - | |
| What varlet cried Croquard Dost thou refuse me | J |
| By heaven proud cur you shall see | J |
| And feel the weight of my hand before you are much older | C |
| Then he instantly sprang up and seized the minstrel by the shoulder | C |
| - | |
| Then the youth began to tremble and seemed terrified to death | K |
| And appeared ready to faint for the want of breath | K |
| While Croquard shook him roughly just like an ugly whelp | L |
| And he looked from one to another imploring help | L |
| - | |
| At this moment a youth observed what was going on | H |
| And he cried out to Croquard Inhuman monster begone | H |
| Leave the minstrel thou pig headed giant or I'll make you repent | F |
| For thou must know my name is Jack and I hail from Kent | F |
| - | |
| Then Croquard relaxed his hold of the minstrel boy | M |
| Which caused the minstrel's heart to leap with joy | M |
| As Jack placed himself before Croquard the giant | F |
| And stood on his guard with a stout oak cudgel defiant | F |
| - | |
| Then the fist of the giant descended in a crack | G |
| But Jack dealt Croquard a heavy blow upon the back | G |
| With his cudgel so that the giant's hand fell powerless down by his side | F |
| And he cursed and roared with pain and did Jack deride | F |
| - | |
| Then the giant tried to draw his sword for to fight | F |
| But Jack danced around him like a young sprite | F |
| And struck him a blow with his cudgel upon the back of the head | F |
| And from the effects of the blow he was nearly killed dead | F |
| - | |
| Then down sank the carcase of the giant to the ground | F |
| While the soldiers about Jack did quickly gather round | F |
| And Jack cried Ha lie thou there overgrown brute | F |
| And defiantly he spurned Croquard's body with his foot | F |
| - | |
| There lad cried Vintner Simon thou hast shown English spirit to day | G |
| By chastising yon overbearing giant in a very proper way | G |
| So come my lad and drink a flagon of my very best sack | G |
| For you handled your cudgel well and no courage did lack | G |
| - | |
| Then no sooner had our hero finished his goblet of sack | G |
| He cried Go and fetch the minstrel back | G |
| For the giant by this time had fled far away | G |
| Therefore the minstrel's tender heart need not throb with dismay | G |
| - | |
| Then the minstrel was brought back without delay | G |
| Which made Jack's heart feel light and gay | G |
| And the minstrel thanked Jack for saving him on that eventful day | G |
| So the soldiers drank to Jack's health and then went away | G |
| - | |
| And when King Edward III heard what Jack had done | H |
| He sent for Jack o' the Cudgel the noble Saxon | H |
| And he made him his page and Jack uttered not a word | F |
| But he unwillingly gave up the cudgel for the honour of the sword | F |
| - | |
| - | |
| Part II | A |
| - | |
| After the battle of Calais King Edward returns to fair England | F |
| And he invited his nobles to a banquet most grand | F |
| That the like hadn't been in England for many a day | G |
| And many of the guests invited had come from far away | G |
| - | |
| The large hall of Windsor Castle was ablaze with light | F |
| And there sat King Edward and his Queen a most beautiful sight | F |
| To see them seated upon two thrones of burnished gold | F |
| And near the King sat Jack o' the Cudgel like a warrior bold | F |
| - | |
| And when the banquet was prepared King Edward arose | N |
| And said My honoured guests I have called you together for a special purpose | O |
| To celebrate our victories so gloriously achieved in France | P |
| By my noble and heroic troops at the charge of the lance | P |
| - | |
| And now since the war in France with us is o'er | C |
| And Edward our son about to marry the lady he does adore | Q |
| The most amiable and lovely Countess of Kent | F |
| Therefore I hope they will happy live together and never repent | F |
| - | |
| Then King Edward took the Countess by the hand and said | F |
| Come Edward take your bride by the hand and don't be afraid | F |
| And do not think my beloved son that with you I feel wroth | K |
| Therefore take the Countess by the hand and plight your troth | K |
| - | |
| Then the Prince arose and took the fair Countess by the hand | F |
| As King Edward his father had given the royal command | F |
| Then he led the Countess Joan to the foot of the throne | H |
| Then King Edward and his Queen welcomed the Countess to their palatial home | R |
| - | |
| Then the Prince unto his father said I must not forget whatever betide | F |
| That to Sir Jack o' the Cudgel I do owe my bride | F |
| Because he rescued her from the hands of a fierce brigand | F |
| Therefore 'twould be hard to find a braver knight in fair England | F |
| - | |
| Then a cheer arose which made the lofty hall to ring | G |
| As Jack advanced towards the throne on the motion of the King | G |
| Then Jack fell on one knee before King Edward | F |
| Then said the Monarch Arise brave youth and I will thee reward | F |
| - | |
| Sir Jack I give thee land to the value of six hundred marks | S |
| In thine own native county of Kent with beautiful parks | S |
| Also beautiful meadows and lovely flowers and trees | T |
| Where you can reside and enjoy yourself as you please | T |
| - | |
| And remember when I need your service you will be at my command | F |
| Then Jack o' the Cudgel bowed assent and kissed King Edward's hand | F |
| Then the Countess Joan took a string of rarest pearls from her hair | U |
| And placed the pearls around Jack's neck most costly and rare | U |
| - | |
| Then the tumult became uproarious when Jack received the presentation | H |
| And he thanked the Lady Joan for the handsome donation | H |
| Then all the ladies did loudly cheer and on Jack smilingly did fan | H |
| And Sir Walter Manny cried aloud Sir Jack you are a lucky man | H |
| - | |
| Then the mirth increased and louder the applause | V |
| And the Countess Joan asked after a pause | V |
| Tell me who has gained the love of the Knight o' the Cudgel | D |
| Then Jack replied My lady you know her right well | W |
| - | |
| She is the lovely daughter of noble John of Aire | U |
| Then replied the Countess she is a lovely creature I must declare | U |
| And I hope the choice that you have made won't make you grieve | X |
| Then Jack kissed the Countess's hand and took his leave | X |
| - | |
| And he wended his way to his beautiful estate in Kent | F |
| And many a happy day there he spent | F |
| And he married the lovely daughter of John of Aire | U |
| And they lived happy together and free from all care | U |
William Topaz Mcgonagall
(1)
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