Pet-lamb, The: A Pastoral Poem Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EFECC GGHH IIJJ BBKK BBLL MMNO HHPQ RRQQ QQBB QQBB KKNO GGHH SSQQ BBQQ TTQQ| The dew was falling fast the stars began to blink | A |
| I heard a voice it said Drink pretty creature drink | A |
| And looking o'er the hedge before me I espied | B |
| A snow white mountain lamb with a Maiden at its side | B |
| - | |
| Nor sheep nor kine were near the lamb was all alone | C |
| And by a slender cord was tethered to a stone | C |
| With one knee on the grass did the little Maiden kneel | D |
| While to that mountain lamb she gave its evening meal | D |
| - | |
| The lamb while from her hand he thus his supper took | E |
| Seemed to feast with head and ears and his tail with pleasure | F |
| shook | E |
| Drink pretty creature drink she said in such a tone | C |
| That I almost received her heart into my own | C |
| - | |
| 'Twas little Barbara Lewthwaite a child of beauty rare | G |
| I watched them with delight they were a lovely pair | G |
| Now with her empty can the Maiden turned away | H |
| But ere ten yards were gone her footsteps did she stay | H |
| - | |
| Right towards the lamb she looked and from a shady place | I |
| I unobserved could see the workings of her face | I |
| If Nature to her tongue could measured numbers bring | J |
| Thus thought I to her lamb that little Maid might sing | J |
| - | |
| What ails thee young One what Why pull so at thy cord | B |
| Is it not well with thee well both for bed and board | B |
| Thy plot of grass is soft and green as grass can be | K |
| Rest little young One rest what is't that aileth thee | K |
| - | |
| What is it thou wouldst seek What is wanting to thy heart | B |
| Thy limbs are they not strong And beautiful thou art | B |
| This grass is tender grass these flowers they have no peers | L |
| And that green corn all day is rustling in thy ears | L |
| - | |
| If the sun be shining hot do but stretch thy woollen chain | M |
| This beech is standing by its covert thou canst gain | M |
| For rain and mountain storms the like thou need'st not fear | N |
| The rain and storm are things that scarcely can come here | O |
| - | |
| Rest little young One rest thou hast forgot the day | H |
| When my father found thee first in places far away | H |
| Many flocks were on the hills but thou wert owned by none | P |
| And thy mother from thy side for evermore was gone | Q |
| - | |
| He took thee in his arms and in pity brought thee home | R |
| A blessed day for thee then whither wouldst thou roam | R |
| A faithful nurse thou hast the dam that did thee yean | Q |
| Upon the mountain tops no kinder could have been | Q |
| - | |
| Thou know'st that twice a day I have brought thee in this can | Q |
| Fresh water from the brook as clear as ever ran | Q |
| And twice in the day when the ground is wet with dew | B |
| I bring thee draughts of milk warm milk it is and new | B |
| - | |
| Thy limbs will shortly be twice as stout as they are now | Q |
| Then I'll yoke thee to my cart like a pony in the plough | Q |
| My playmate thou shalt be and when the wind is cold | B |
| Our hearth shall be thy bed our house shall be thy fold | B |
| - | |
| It will not will not rest Poor creature can it be | K |
| That 'tis thy mother's heart which is working so in thee | K |
| Things that I know not of belike to thee are dear | N |
| And dreams of things which thou canst neither see nor hear | O |
| - | |
| Alas the mountain tops that look so green and fair | G |
| I've heard of fearful winds and darkness that come there | G |
| The little brooks that seem all pastime and all play | H |
| When they are angry roar like lions for their prey | H |
| - | |
| Here thou need'st not dread the raven in the sky | S |
| Night and day thou art safe our cottage is hard by | S |
| Why bleat so after me Why pull so at thy chain | Q |
| Sleep and at break of day I will come to thee again | Q |
| - | |
| As homeward through the lane I went with lazy feet | B |
| This song to myself did I oftentimes repeat | B |
| And it seemed as I retraced the ballad line by line | Q |
| That but half of it was hers and one half of it was 'mine' | Q |
| - | |
| Again and once again did I repeat the song | T |
| Nay said I more than half to the damsel must belong | T |
| For she looked with such a look and she spake with such a tone | Q |
| That I almost received her heart into my own | Q |
William Wordsworth
(1)
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