Said I to Myself, Said I
William Schwenck Gilbert 1836 – 1911
When I went to the Bar as a very young man
(Said I to myself - said I),
I'll work on a new and original plan
(Said I to myself - said I),
I'll never assume that a rogue or a thief
Is a gentleman worthy implicit belief,
Because his attorney, has sent me a brief
(Said I to myself - said I!)
I'll never throw dust in a juryman's eyes
(Said I to myself - said I),
Or hoodwink a judge who is not over-wise
(Said I to myself - said I),
Or assume that the witnesses summoned in force
In Exchequer, Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, or Divorce,
Have perjured themselves as a matter of course
(Said I to myself - said I!)
Ere I go into court I will read my brief through
(Said I to myself - said I),
And I'll never take work I'm unable to do
(Said I to myself - said I).
My learned profession I'll never disgrace
By taking a fee with a grin on my face,
When I haven't been there to attend to the case
(Said I to myself - said I!)
In other professions in which men engage
(Said I to myself - said I),
The Army, the Navy, the Church, and the Stage,
(Said I to myself - said I),
Professional licence, if carried too far,
Your chance of promotion will certainly mar -
And I fancy the rule might apply to the Bar
(Said I to myself - said I!)
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on April 30, 2023
- 1:20 min read
- 125 Views
Quick analysis:
Scheme | aBaBcccB dBdBeeeB fBfBgggB hBhBiiiB |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
Characters | 1,200 |
Words | 258 |
Stanzas | 4 |
Stanza Lengths | 8, 8, 8, 8 |
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"Said I to Myself, Said I" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/41261/said-i-to-myself,-said-i>.
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