A Ballad Of John Nicholson Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: ABCB CDED FAGA HIJI EKLK MNDN OPAP QRSR GTUT JVWV ETXP EYIZ A2B2C2B2 JEAE OKAK JD2QD2 E2EAE F2CG2C H2I2J2I2 IK2I2K2It fell in the year of Mutiny | A |
At darkest of the night | B |
John Nicholson by Jalandhar came | C |
On his way to Delhi fight | B |
- | |
And as he by Jalandhar came | C |
He thought what he must do | D |
And he sent to the Rajah fair greeting | E |
To try if he were true | D |
- | |
God grant your Highness length of days | F |
And friends when need shall be | A |
And I pray you send your Captains hither | G |
That they may speak with me | A |
- | |
On the morrow through Jalandhar town | H |
The Captains rode in state | I |
They came to the house of John Nicholson | J |
And stood before the gate | I |
- | |
The chief of them was Mehtab Singh | E |
He was both proud and sly | K |
His turban gleamed with rubies red | L |
He held his chin full high | K |
- | |
He marked his fellows how they put | M |
Their shoes from off their feet | N |
Now wherefore make ye such ado | D |
These fallen lords to greet | N |
- | |
They have ruled us for a hundred years | O |
In truth I know not how | P |
But though they be fain of mastery | A |
They dare not claim it now | P |
- | |
Right haughtily before them all | Q |
The durbar hall he trod | R |
With rubies red his turban gleamed | S |
His feet with pride were shod | R |
- | |
They had not been an hour together | G |
A scanty hour or so | T |
When Mehtab Singh rose in his place | U |
And turned about to go | T |
- | |
Then swiftly came John Nicholson | J |
Between the door and him | V |
With anger smouldering in his eyes | W |
That made the rubies dim | V |
- | |
You are over hasty Mehtab Singh | E |
Oh but his voice was low | T |
He held his wrath with a curb of iron | X |
That furrowed cheek and brow | P |
- | |
You are overhasty Mehtab Singh | E |
When that the rest are gone | Y |
I have a word that may not wait | I |
To speak with you alone | Z |
- | |
The Captains passed in silence forth | A2 |
And stood the door behind | B2 |
To go before the game was played | C2 |
Be sure they had no mind | B2 |
- | |
But there within John Nicholson | J |
Turned him on Mehtab Singh | E |
So long as the soul is in my body | A |
You shall not do this thing | E |
- | |
Have ye served us for a hundred years | O |
And yet ye know not why | K |
We brook no doubt of our mastery | A |
We rule until we die | K |
- | |
Were I the one last Englishman | J |
Drawing the breath of life | D2 |
And you the master rebel of all | Q |
That stir this land to strife | D2 |
- | |
Were I he said but a Corporal | E2 |
And you a Rajput King | E |
So long as the soul was in my body | A |
You should not do this thing | E |
- | |
Take off take off those shoes of pride | F2 |
Carry them whence they came | C |
Your Captains saw your insolence | G2 |
And they shall see your shame | C |
- | |
When Mehtab Singh came to the door | H2 |
His shoes they burned his hand | I2 |
For there in long and silent lines | J2 |
He saw the Captains stand | I2 |
- | |
When Mehtab Singh rode from the gate | I |
His chin was on his breast | K2 |
The Captains said When the strong command | I2 |
Obedience is best | K2 |
Henry Newbolt
(1)
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