Dane-geld Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A BCDD DEDE BCFGD DHDE BCDC DDID| A D | A |
| - | |
| - | |
| It is always a temptation to an armed and agile nation | B |
| To call upon a neighbour and to say | C |
| quot We invaded you last night we are quite prepared to fight | D |
| Unless you pay us cash to go away quot | D |
| - | |
| And that is called asking for Dane geld | D |
| And the people who ask it explain | E |
| That you've only to pay 'em the Dane geld | D |
| And then you'll get rid of the Dane | E |
| - | |
| It is always a temptation for a reach and lazy nation | B |
| To puff and look important and to say | C |
| quot Though we know we should defeat you we have not the | F |
| time to meet you | G |
| We will therefore pay you cash to go away quot | D |
| - | |
| And that is called paying the Dane geld | D |
| But we've proved it again and again | H |
| That if once you have paid him the Dane geld | D |
| You never get rid of the Dane | E |
| - | |
| It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation | B |
| For fear they should succumb and go astray | C |
| So when you are requested to pay up or be molested | D |
| You will find it better policy to say | C |
| - | |
| quot We never pay any one Dane geld | D |
| No matter how trifling the cost | D |
| For the end of that game is oppression and shame | I |
| And the nation that plays it is lost quot | D |
Rudyard Kipling
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Nelson Kardos: Very contemporary. The Mafia operate the same way, but they call it "protection money," And once you pay for protection it never stops
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