King Cophetua And The Beggar-maid Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCBBCCBCCCB DEDFAAAFEEEG HCBCGGGCIIIC FJFJGGGKLLLL EFEFCCCFBBBF GBGBEEEBEELB ALALCCCLLLLL HCHCCCCCCLLC CCMCBBBCNNNC GBOBEEEBEAAH

I read that once in AffricaA
A princely wight did raineB
Who had to name CophetuaC
As poets they did faineB
From natures lawes he did declineB
For sure he was not of my mindeC
He cared not for women kindC
But did them all disdaineB
But marke what hapned on a dayC
As he out of his window layC
He saw a beggar all in grayC
The which did cause his paineB
-
The blinded boy that shootes so trimD
From heaven downe did hieE
He drew a dart and shot at himD
In place where he did lyeF
Which soone did pierse him to the quickeA
And when he felt the arrow prickeA
Which in his tender heart did stickeA
He looketh as he would dyeF
What sudden chance is this quoth heE
That I to love must subject beE
Which never thereto would agreeE
But still did it defieG
-
Then from the window he did comeH
And laid him on his bedC
A thousand heapes of care did runneB
Within his troubled headC
For now he meanes to crave her loveG
And now he seekes which way to prooveG
How he his fancie might remooveG
And not this beggar wedC
But Cupid had him so in snareI
That this poor begger must prepareI
A salve to cure him of his careI
Or els he would be deadC
-
And as he musing thus did lyeF
He thought for to deviseJ
How he might have her companyeF
That so did 'maze his eyesJ
In thee quoth he doth rest my lifeG
For surely thou shalt be my wifeG
Or else this hand with bloody knifeG
The Gods shall sure sufficeK
Then from his bed he soon aroseL
And to his pallace gate he goesL
Full little then this begger knowesL
When she the king espiesL
-
The gods preserve your majestyE
The beggers all gan cryF
Vouchsafe to give your charityE
Our childrens food to buyF
The king to them his purse did castC
And they to part it made great hasteC
This silly woman was the lastC
That after them did hyeF
The king he cal'd her back againeB
And unto her he gave his chaineB
And said With us you shal remaineB
Till such time as we dyeF
-
For thou quoth he shalt be my wifeG
And honoured for my queeneB
With thee I meane to lead my lifeG
As shortly shall be seeneB
Our wedding shall appointed beE
And every thing in its degreeE
Come on quoth he and follow meE
Thou shalt go shift thee cleaneB
What is thy name faire maid quoth heE
Penelophon O King quoth sheE
With that she made a lowe courtseyL
A trim one as I weeneB
-
Thus hand in hand along they walkeA
Unto the king's pallaceL
The king with courteous comly talkeA
This begger doth embraceL
The begger blusheth scarlet redC
And straight againe as pale as leadC
But not a word at all she saidC
She was in such amazeL
At last she spake with trembling voyceL
And said O King I doe rejoyceL
That you wil take me for your choyceL
And my degree so baseL
-
And when the wedding day was comeH
The king commanded straitC
The noblemen both all and someH
Upon the queene to waitC
And she behaved herself that dayC
As if she had never walkt the wayC
She had forgot her gowne of grayC
Which she did weare of lateC
The proverbe old is come to passeC
The priest when he begins his masseL
Forgets that ever clerke he wasL
He knowth not his estateC
-
Here you may read CophetuaC
Through long time fancie fedC
Compelled by the blinded boyM
The begger for to wedC
He that did lovers lookes disdaineB
To do the same was glad and faineB
Or else he would himselfe have slaineB
In storie as we readC
Disdaine no whit O lady deereN
But pitty now thy servant heereN
Least that it hap to thee this yeareN
As to that king it didC
-
And thus they led a quiet lifeG
During their princely raineB
And in a tombe were buried bothO
As writers sheweth plaineB
The lords they tooke it grievouslyE
The ladies tooke it heavilyE
The commons cryed pitiouslyE
Their death to them was paineB
Their fame did sound so passinglyE
That it did pierce the starry skyA
And throughout all the world did flyeA
To every princes realmeH

George Wharton Edwards



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about King Cophetua And The Beggar-maid poem by George Wharton Edwards


 

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 3 times,

This poem was added to the favorite list by 0 members,

This poem was voted by 0 members.

(* Interactions only in the last 7 days)

New Poems

Popular Poets