For The King Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AAA BBB CCC DDD EEE FGH III JJJ KKK EEE JLL MMM NNN OOO JJJ MMM JJJ PPP QQQ JJJ RSS JJJ TTT JJJ JJJ JJJ PPP UVU JJJ EEE WWW XXY ZZZ JJJ A2A2A2 JJJ JJJ JJJ B2B2B2 C2C2D2 E2E2F2 JJJ B2B2B2 JJJ EEE ZZZ B2B2B2 G2G2G2 G2G2G2 B2B2B2 B2B2B2 JJJ CCC G2G2G2 H2H2H2 EEE JJJ EEE

As you look from the plaza at Leon westA
You can see her house but the view is bestA
From the porch of the church where she lies at restA
-
Where much of her past still lives I thinkB
In the scowling brows and sidelong blinkB
Of the worshiping throng that rise or sinkB
-
To the waxen saints that yellow and lankC
Lean out from their niches rank on rankC
With a bloodless Saviour on either flankC
-
In the gouty pillars whose cracks beginD
To show the adobe core withinD
A soul of earth in a whitewashed skinD
-
And I think that the moral of all you'll sayE
Is the sculptured legend that moulds awayE
On a tomb in the choir Por el ReyE
-
Por el Rey Well the king is goneF
Ages ago and the Hapsburg oneG
Shot but the Rock of the Church lives onH
-
Por el Rey What matters indeedI
If king or president succeedI
To a country haggard with sloth and greedI
-
As long as one granary is fatJ
And yonder priest in a shovel hatJ
Peeps out from the bin like a sleek brown ratJ
-
What matters Naught if it serves to bringK
The legend nearer no other thingK
We'll spare the moral Live the kingK
-
Two hundred years ago they sayE
The Viceroy Marquis of Monte ReyE
Rode with his retinue that wayE
-
Grave as befitted Spain's grandeeJ
Grave as the substitute should beL
Of His Most Catholic MajestyL
-
Yet from his black plume's curving graceM
To his slim black gauntlet's smaller spaceM
Exquisite as a piece of laceM
-
Two hundred years ago e'en soN
The Marquis stopped where the lime trees blowN
While Leon's seneschal bent him lowN
-
And begged that the Marquis would that night takeO
His humble roof for the royal sakeO
And then as the custom demanded spakeO
-
The usual wish that his guest would holdJ
The house and all that it might enfoldJ
As his with the bride scarce three days oldJ
-
Be sure that the Marquis in his placeM
Replied to all with the measured graceM
Of chosen speech and unmoved faceM
-
Nor raised his head till his black plume sweptJ
The hem of the lady's robe who keptJ
Her place as her husband backward steptJ
-
And then I know not how nor whyP
A subtle flame in the lady's eyeP
Unseen by the courtiers standing byP
-
Burned through his lace and titled wreathQ
Burned through his body's jeweled sheathQ
Till it touched the steel of the man beneathQ
-
And yet mayhap no more was meantJ
Than to point a well worn complimentJ
And the lady's beauty her worst intentJ
-
Howbeit the Marquis bowed againR
Who rules with awe well serveth SpainS
But best whose law is love made plainS
-
Be sure that night no pillow prestJ
The seneschal but with the restJ
Watched as was due a royal guestJ
-
Watched from the wall till he saw the squareT
Fill with the moonlight white and bareT
Watched till he saw two shadows fareT
-
Out from his garden where the shadeJ
That the old church tower and belfry madeJ
Like a benedictory hand was laidJ
-
Few words spoke the seneschal as he turnedJ
To his nearest sentry These monks have learnedJ
That stolen fruit is sweetly earnedJ
-
Myself shall punish yon acolyteJ
Who gathers my garden grapes by nightJ
Meanwhile wait thou till the morning lightJ
-
Yet not till the sun was riding highP
Did the sentry meet his commander's eyeP
Nor then till the Viceroy stood byP
-
To the lovers of grave formalitiesU
No greeting was ever so fine I wisV
As this host's and guest's high courtesiesU
-
The seneschal feared as the wind was westJ
A blast from Morena had chilled his restJ
The Viceroy languidly confestJ
-
That cares of state and he dared to sayE
Some fears that the King could not repayE
The thoughtful zeal of his host some wayE
-
Had marred his rest Yet he trusted muchW
None shared his wakefulness though suchW
Indeed might be If he dared to touchW
-
A theme so fine the bride perchanceX
Still slept At least they missed her glanceX
To give this greeting countenanceY
-
Be sure that the seneschal in turnZ
Was deeply bowed with the grave concernZ
Of the painful news his guest should learnZ
-
Last night to her father's dying bedJ
By a priest was the lady summonedJ
Nor know we yet how well she spedJ
-
But hope for the best The grave ViceroyA2
Though grieved his visit had such alloyA2
Must still wish the seneschal great joyA2
-
Of a bride so true to her filial trustJ
Yet now as the day waxed on they mustJ
To horse if they'd 'scape the noonday dustJ
-
Nay said the seneschal at leastJ
To mend the news of this funeral priestJ
Myself shall ride as your escort eastJ
-
The Viceroy bowed Then turned asideJ
To his nearest follower With me rideJ
You and Felipe on either sideJ
-
And list Should anything me befallB2
Mischance of ambush or musket ballB2
Cleave to his saddle yon seneschalB2
-
No more Then gravely in accents clearC2
Took formal leave of his late good cheerC2
Whiles the seneschal whispered a musketeerD2
-
Carelessly stroking his pommel topE2
If from the saddle ye see me dropE2
Riddle me quickly yon solemn fopF2
-
So these with many a complimentJ
Each on his own dark thought intentJ
With grave politeness onward wentJ
-
Riding high and in sight of allB2
Viceroy escort and seneschalB2
Under the shade of the AlmandralB2
-
Holding their secret hard and fastJ
Silent and grave they ride at lastJ
Into the dusty traveled PastJ
-
Even like this they passed awayE
Two hundred years ago to dayE
What of the lady Who shall sayE
-
Do the souls of the dying ever yearnZ
To some favored spot for the dust's returnZ
For the homely peace of the family urnZ
-
I know not Yet did the seneschalB2
Chancing in after years to fallB2
Pierced by a Flemish musket ballB2
-
Call to his side a trusty friarG2
And bid him swear as his last desireG2
To bear his corse to San Pedro's choirG2
-
At Leon where 'neath a shield azureG2
Should his mortal frame find sepultureG2
This much for the pains Christ did endureG2
-
Be sure that the friar loyallyB2
Fulfilled his trust by land and seaB2
Till the spires of Leon silentlyB2
-
Rose through the green of the AlmandralB2
As if to beckon the seneschalB2
To his kindred dust 'neath the choir wallB2
-
I wot that the saints on either sideJ
Leaned from their niches open eyedJ
To see the doors of the church swing wideJ
-
That the wounds of the Saviour on either flankC
Bled fresh as the mourners rank by rankC
Went by with the coffin clank on clankC
-
For why When they raised the marble doorG2
Of the tomb untouched for years beforeG2
The friar swooned on the choir floorG2
-
For there in her laces and festal dressH2
Lay the dead man's wife her lovelinessH2
Scarcely changed by her long duressH2
-
As on the night she had passed awayE
Only that near her a dagger layE
With the written legend Por el ReyE
-
What was their greeting the groom and brideJ
They whom that steel and the years divideJ
I know not Here they lie side by sideJ
-
Side by side Though the king has his wayE
Even the dead at last have their dayE
Make you the moral Por el ReyE

Bret Harte (francis)



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