Amais Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCCCDCEEFFCFFCGHFGH FIHI AF JFFFCCHHKFFKCCCCCCHC ACHHFCFFFFFJLLJFCFHC HFC FJJCFCMMJJNCCNFFFF FO F FFPCPFFQQRSSRJTCJTCF F RHHCUCFFCHFLLFFCFQCQ FCF

IA
O King Amasis hailB
News from thy friend the King PolycratesC
My oars have never rested on the seasC
From Samos nor on land my horse's hoofsC
Till I might tell my tale ''D
Sais the sacred city basked her roofsC
And gardens whispering in the western lightE
Men thronged abroad to taste the coming cool of nightE
Only the palace closedF
Unechoing courts where by the lake reposedF
Wide eyed the enthron d shapes of Memphian deitiesC
And King Amasis in the cloistered shadeF
That guards them of a giant colonnadeF
Paced musing there he pondered mysteriesC
That are the veils of truthG
For mid those gods of grave ignoring smileH
Large auguries he spelledF
Forgot the spears the tumults of his youthG
And strangled Apries and the reddened NileH
Now turning he beheldF
Half in a golden shadow and half touched with flameI
The white robed stranger from the Grecian isleH
And heard pronounced his nameI
-
-
IIA
Welcome from Samos friendF
Good news I think thou bearest in thy mien ''-
The king spoke welcoming with voice sereneJ
How is it with Polycrates thy lordF
Peace on his name attendF
Would he were here in Egypt and his swordF
Could sheathe and we at god like ease discourseC
Of counsel no ignoble needs enforceC
And take august regaleH
Of wisdom from the Powers whose purpose cannot failH
I too O man of Samos bred to warK
Passed youth passed manhood in a life of bloodF
But many victories bring the heart no certain goodF
Would that he too might tease his fate no moreK
And I might see his faceC
In presence of my land's ancestral PowersC
See from their countenance what a grandeur beamsC
Thou know'st I love thy raceC
Bright wits ye have skill in adventurous schemesC
But deeper life is oursC
Fed by these springs your strength might bless the world But loH
The light begins to fade from the high towersC
Thy errand let me know ''-
-
-
IIIA
Thus saith PolycratesC
The counsel which thou wrotest me is wellH
For seeing how full crops my granaries swellH
How all winds waft me to prosperityF
How I gain all with easeC
And my raised banner pledges victoryF
Thou didst advise me cast away what mostF
Brought pleasure to my eyes and seemed of rarest costF
And after heavy thoughtF
I chose the ring which Theodorus wroughtF
My famous emerald where young PhaethonJ
Shoots headlong with pale limbs through glowing airL
While green waves from beneath toss white drops to his hairL
A long time very loth I gazed thereonJ
For this cause thought I men most envy meF
I took a ship and fifty beating oarsC
Bore me far out to seaF
I stood upon the poop but wherefore tellH
What now is rumoured round all Asian shoresC
Say only I did wellH
Who the world's envy treasured yet in deep waves drownedF
Homeward I came and mourned within my doorsC
Three days nor solace found ''-
-
-
IV-
Amasis without wordF
Listens dark browed the Samian speaks anewJ
Let not the king this thing so deeply rueJ
Truly the gem was of imperial priceC
Nay even men averredF
Coveted more than wealthy satrapiesC
Nor twenty talents could its loss redeemM
Yet hear the Gods are more benignant than men dreamM
Thus saith my lord The moonJ
Not once had waned when as I sat at noonJ
Within my palace court above the Lydian bayN
They led before me with much wondering noiseC
A fisherman between two staggering boysC
Slung heavily a fish he brought that dayN
Caught in his bursting netF
A royal fish for royal destinyF
I marvelled but amaze broke deeper yetF
To recognize Heaven's handF
When from its cloven belly surely high-
In that large grace I standF
Dazzled my eyes with light my heart with joy the ringO
Restored Why rendest thou thy robe and why-
Lamentest thou O king ''-
-
-
VF
O lamentable news ''-
Amasis cried now have the Gods indeedF
Doom on thy head Polycrates decreedF
I feared already when I heard thy joyP
Must need stoop down to chooseC
For sacrifice loss of a shining toyP
Searching the suburbs only of contentF
Not thy heart's home what God this blindness on thee sentF
Gone was thy ring yet howQ
Was thy soul cleared or thou more greatly thouQ
Were vain things vainer or the dear more dearR
Hast thou bent gazing o'er thy child asleepS
Thoughts springing tender as new leaves Deep deepS
Deep as thy inmost hope as thy most sacred fearR
Thou shouldst have sought the painJ
That changes earth's wide aspect in an hourT
Heaved by abysmal throesC
Ah then our pleasant refuges are vainJ
Yet thrilled the soul assembles all her powerT
And cleared by peril glowsC
Seeing immortal hosts arrayed upon her sideF
Blind man the scornful Gods thy offering slightF
My fears are certified ''-
-
-
VI-
Swift are the thoughts of fearR
But Fate at will rides swifter far and loH
Even as Amasis bows to boded woeH
Even as his robe with a sad cry he rendsC
The accomplishment is hereU
The sun that from the Egyptian plain descendsC
Blessing with holier shadeF
Those strange gods dreaming throned by the vast colonnadeF
Burns o'er the northern seaC
Firing the peak of Asian MycaleH
Firing a cross raised on the mountain sideF
Polycrates the Fortunate hangs thereL
The false Oroetes hath him in a snareL
Now with his quivering limbs his soul is crucifiedF
And in his last hour firstF
He tastes the extremity of loss he burnsC
With ecstasy of thirstF
Nought recks he even of his dearest nowQ
Moaning for breath no pity he discernsC
On the dark Persian's browQ
Grave on his milk white horse in silks of Sidon shawledF
The Satrap smiles and on his finger turnsC
The all envied emeraldF

Robert Laurence Binyon



Rate:
(1)



Poem topics: , Print This Poem , Rhyme Scheme

Submit Spanish Translation
Submit German Translation
Submit French Translation


Write your comment about Amais poem by Robert Laurence Binyon


 
Best Poems of Robert Laurence Binyon

Recent Interactions*

This poem was read 2 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