Caliban Upon Rudiments. Or Autoschediastic Theology In A Hole.

Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch 1863 (Bodmin, Cornwall) – 1944 (Cornwall)



Rudiments, Rudiments, and Rudiments!
'Thinketh one made them i' the fit o' the blues.
  
'Thinketh one made them with the 'tips' to match,
But not the answers; 'doubteth there be none,
Only Guides, Helps, Analyses, such as that:
Also this Beast, that groweth sleek thereon,
And snow-white bands that round the neck o' the same.
  
'Thinketh, it came of being ill at ease.
'Hath heard that Satan finds some mischief still
For idle hands, and the rest o 't.    That's the case.
Also 'hath heard they pop the names i' the hat,
Toss out a brace, a dozen stick inside;
Let forty through and plough the sorry rest.
  
'Thinketh, such shows nor right nor wrong in them,
Only their strength, being made o' sloth i' the main--
'Am strong myself compared to yonder names
O' Jewish towns i' the paper.    Watch th' event--
'Let twenty pass, 'have a shot at twenty-first,
'Miss Ramoth-Gilead, 'take Jehoiakim,
'Let Abner by and spot Melchizedek,
Knowing not, caring not, just choosing so,
As it likes me each time, I do: so they.
  
'Saith they be terrible: watch their feats i' the Viva!
One question plays the deuce with six months' toil.
Aha, if they would tell me!    No, not they!
There is the sport: 'come read me right or die!'
All at their mercy,--why they like it most
When--when--well, never try the same shot twice!
'Hath fled himself and only got up a tree.
  
'Will say a plain word if he gets a plough.
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Submitted on August 03, 2020

Modified on March 05, 2023

1:17 min read
3

Quick analysis:

Scheme XX XXAXB XXXAXX XXXXXBXXC XXCXXXX X
Closest metre Iambic pentameter
Characters 1,375
Words 257
Stanzas 6
Stanza Lengths 2, 5, 6, 9, 7, 1

Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch (; 21 November 1863 – 12 May 1944) was a Cornish writer who published using the pseudonym Q. Although a prolific novelist, he is remembered mainly for the monumental publication The Oxford Book Of English Verse 1250–1900 (later extended to 1918) and for his literary criticism. He influenced many who never met him, including American writer Helene Hanff, author of 84, Charing Cross Road and its sequel, Q's Legacy. His Oxford Book of English Verse was a favourite of John Mortimer's fictional character Horace Rumpole.  more…

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