The Arbiter, The Almoner, And The Hermit Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCDEFGHHIIJJKLLK MMNNOOPPQQRCCR NNSTUSVVWWXXMMYZZYA2 B2A2A2B2B2 C2C2 VVD2E2E2WWF2NNF2B2B2 B2G2G2H2I2| Three saints for their salvation jealous | A |
| Pursued with hearts alike most zealous | A |
| By routes diverse their common aim | B |
| All highways lead to Rome the same | B |
| Of heaven our rivals deeming true | C |
| Each chose alone his pathway to pursue | C |
| Moved by the cares delays and crosses | D |
| Attach'd to suits by legal process | E |
| One gave himself as judge without reward | F |
| For earthly fortune having small regard | G |
| Since there are laws to legal strife | H |
| Man damns himself for half his life | H |
| For half Three fourths perhaps the whole | I |
| The hope possess'd our umpire's soul | I |
| That on his plan he should be able | J |
| To cure this vice detestable | J |
| The second chose the hospitals | K |
| I give him praise to solace pain | L |
| Is charity not spent in vain | L |
| While men in part are animals | K |
| The sick for things went then as now they go | M |
| Gave trouble to the almoner I trow | M |
| Impatient sour complaining ever | N |
| As rack'd by rheum or parch'd with fever | N |
| 'His favourites are such and such | O |
| With them he watches over much | O |
| And lets us die ' they say | P |
| Such sore complaints from day to day | P |
| Were nought to those that did await | Q |
| The reconciler of debate | Q |
| His judgments suited neither side | R |
| Forsooth in either party's view | C |
| He never held the balance true | C |
| But swerved in every cause he tried | R |
| - | |
| Discouraged by such speech the arbiter | N |
| Betook himself to see the almoner | N |
| As both received but murmurs for their fees | S |
| They both retired in not the best of moods | T |
| To break their troubles to the silent woods | U |
| And hold communion with the ancient trees | S |
| There underneath a rugged mountain | V |
| Beside a clear and silent fountain | V |
| A place revered by winds to sun unknown | W |
| They found the other saint who lived alone | W |
| Forthwith they ask'd his sage advice | X |
| 'Your own ' he answer'd 'must suffice | X |
| Who but yourselves your wants should know | M |
| To know one's self is here below | M |
| The first command of the Supreme | Y |
| Have you obey'd among the bustling throngs | Z |
| Such knowledge to tranquillity belongs | Z |
| Elsewhere to seek were fallacy extreme | Y |
| Disturb the water do you see your face | A2 |
| See we ourselves within a troubled breast | B2 |
| A murky cloud in such a case | A2 |
| Though once it were a crystal vase | A2 |
| But brothers let it simply rest | B2 |
| And each shall see his features there impress'd | B2 |
| For inward thought a desert home is best ' | - |
| - | |
| Such was the hermit's answer brief | C2 |
| And happily it gain'd belief | C2 |
| - | |
| But business still from life must not be stricken | V |
| Since men will doubtless sue at law and sicken | V |
| Physicians there must be and advocates | D2 |
| Whereof thank God no lack the world awaits | E2 |
| While wealth and honours are the well known baits | E2 |
| Yet in the stream of common wants when thrown | W |
| What busy mortal but forgets his own | W |
| O you who give the public all your care | F2 |
| Be it as judge or prince or minister | N |
| Disturb'd by countless accidents most sinister | N |
| By adverse gales abased debased by fair | F2 |
| Yourself you never see nor see you aught | B2 |
| Comes there a moment's rest for serious thought | B2 |
| There comes a flatterer too and brings it all to nought | B2 |
| This lesson seals our varied page | G2 |
| O may it teach from age to age | G2 |
| To kings I give it to the wise propose | H2 |
| Where could my labours better close | I2 |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation
Write your comment about The Arbiter, The Almoner, And The Hermit poem by Jean De La Fontaine
Best Poems of Jean De La Fontaine