The Lion Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BBBBBCCDDBBEEBBFFGG BBBBFFGGBBBBHHI JKJLMLLBNNBFFBBBBOFP FQRBBBBFF| A | |
| - | |
| Some time ago a sultan Leopard | B |
| By means of many a rich escheat | B |
| Had many an ox in meadow sweet | B |
| And many a stag in forest fleet | B |
| And what a savage sort of shepherd | B |
| Full many a sheep upon the plains | C |
| That lay within his wide domains | C |
| Not far away one morn | D |
| There was a lion born | D |
| Exchanged high compliments of state | B |
| As is the custom with the great | B |
| The sultan call'd his vizier Fox | E |
| Who had a deeper knowledge box | E |
| And said to him 'This lion's whelp you dread | B |
| What can he do his father being dead | B |
| Our pity rather let him share | F |
| An orphan so beset with care | F |
| The luckiest lion ever known | G |
| If letting conquest quite alone | G |
| He should have power to keep his own ' | - |
| Sir Renard said | B |
| And shook his head | B |
| 'Such orphans please your majesty | B |
| Will get no pity out of me | B |
| We ought to keep within his favour | F |
| Or else with all our might endeavour | F |
| To thrust him out of life and throne | G |
| Ere yet his claws and teeth are grown | G |
| There's not a moment to be lost | B |
| His horoscope I've cast | B |
| He'll never quarrel to his cost | B |
| But then his friendship fast | B |
| Will be to friends of greater worth | H |
| Than any lion's e'er on earth | H |
| Try then my liege to make it ours | I |
| Or else to check his rising powers ' | - |
| The warning fell in vain | J |
| The sultan slept and beasts and men | K |
| Did so throughout his whole domain | J |
| Till lion's whelp became a lion | L |
| Then came at once the tocsin cry on | M |
| Alarm and fluttering consternation | L |
| The vizier call'd to consultation | L |
| A sigh escaped him as he said | B |
| 'Why all this mad excitement now | N |
| When hope is fled no matter how | N |
| A thousand men were useless aid | B |
| The more the worse since all their power | F |
| Would be our mutton to devour | F |
| Appease this lion sole he doth exceed | B |
| The helpers all that on us feed | B |
| And three hath he that cost him nought | B |
| His courage strength and watchful thought | B |
| Quick send a wether for his use | O |
| If not contented send him more | F |
| Yes add an ox and see you choose | P |
| The best our pastures ever bore | F |
| Thus save the rest ' But such advice | Q |
| The sultan spurn'd as cowardice | R |
| And his and many states beside | B |
| Did ills in consequence betide | B |
| However fought this world allied | B |
| The beast maintain'd his power and pride | B |
| If you must let the lion grow | F |
| Don't let him live to be your foe | F |
Jean De La Fontaine
(1)
Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme
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