The Eagle And The Owl Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBCCDEEDFGHH I EEJJIIK LLMMNNNLLOOHHPPQQNRR NLL| A | |
| - | |
| The eagle and the owl resolved to cease | B |
| Their war embraced in pledge of peace | B |
| On faith of king on faith of owl they swore | C |
| That they would eat each other's chicks no more | C |
| 'But know you mine ' said Wisdom's bird | D |
| 'Not I indeed ' the eagle cried | E |
| 'The worse for that ' the owl replied | E |
| 'I fear your oath's a useless word | D |
| I fear that you as king will not | F |
| Consider duly who or what | G |
| You kings and gods of what's before ye | H |
| Are apt to make one category | H |
| Adieu my young if you should meet them ' | - |
| 'Describe them then or let me greet them | I |
| And on my life I will not eat them ' | - |
| The eagle said The owl replied | E |
| 'My little ones I say with pride | E |
| For grace of form cannot be match'd | J |
| The prettiest birds that e'er were hatch'd | J |
| By this you cannot fail to know them | I |
| 'Tis needless therefore that I show them | I |
| Pray don't forget but keep this mark in view | K |
| Lest fate should curse my happy nest by you ' | - |
| At length God gives the owl a set of heirs | L |
| And while at early eve abroad he fares | L |
| In quest of birds and mice for food | M |
| Our eagle haply spies the brood | M |
| As on some craggy rock they sprawl | N |
| Or nestle in some ruined wall | N |
| But which it matters not at all | N |
| And thinks them ugly little frights | L |
| Grim sad with voice like shrieking sprites | L |
| 'These chicks ' says he 'with looks almost infernal | O |
| Can't be the darlings of our friend nocturnal | O |
| I'll sup of them ' And so he did not slightly | H |
| He never sups if he can help it lightly | H |
| The owl return'd and sad he found | P |
| Nought left but claws upon the ground | P |
| He pray'd the gods above and gods below | Q |
| To smite the brigand who had caused his woe | Q |
| Quoth one 'On you alone the blame must fall | N |
| Or rather on the law of nature | R |
| Which wills that every earthly creature | R |
| Shall think its like the loveliest of all | N |
| You told the eagle of your young ones' graces | L |
| You gave the picture of their faces | L |
| Had it of likeness any traces ' | - |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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