The Displeasure Of Selefkidis Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEFGHIJHEKBLMMABN OPQRSTKGUVWX| Dimitrios Selefkidis was displeased | A |
| to learn that a Ptolemy | B |
| had reached Italy in such a squalid state | C |
| poorly dressed and on foot | D |
| only three or four slaves This way | E |
| their dynasty will become a joke | F |
| the laughter of Rome | G |
| Selefkidis of course knows | H |
| that basically even now they've become something like | I |
| servants | J |
| to the Romans he also knows | H |
| that the Romans give and take away | E |
| their thrones arbitrarily as they please | K |
| But they should maintain a certain dignity | B |
| at least in their appearance | L |
| they shouldn't forget that they are still kings | M |
| are still alas called kings | M |
| This is why Dimitrios Selefkidis was displeased | A |
| and right away he offered Ptolemy | B |
| purple robes a magnificent diadem | N |
| precious jewels numerous servants and retainers | O |
| his most expensive horses | P |
| so that he might present himself at Rome as he should | Q |
| as an Alexandrian Greek monarch | R |
| But Ptolemy who'd come to beg | S |
| knew his business and refused it all | T |
| he didn't have the slightest need for these luxuries | K |
| Shabbily dressed humble he entered Rome | G |
| put himself up in the house of a minor artisan | U |
| and then presented himself | V |
| as a poor ill fated creature to the Senate | W |
| in order to make his begging more effective | X |
Constantine P. Cavafy
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Displeasure Of Selefkidis poem by Constantine P. Cavafy
Best Poems of Constantine P. Cavafy