The Ballad Of The King's Mercy Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: AABB CCDD EFDD GGHHEEII JJKL AAFE MMEEAA NNAAEEOOAALLHH HHPP FF LK QQ KKHH FF RR SS KK QQ AASS

Abdhur Rahman the Durani Chief of him is the story toldA
His mercy fills the Khyber hills his grace is manifoldA
He has taken toll of the North and the South his glory reacheth farB
And they tell the tale of his charity from Balkh to KandaharB
-
Before the old Peshawur Gate where Kurd and Kaffir meetC
The Governor of Kabul dealt the Justice of the StreetC
And that was strait as running noose and swift as plunging knifeD
Tho' he who held the longer purse might hold the longer lifeD
-
There was a hound of Hindustan had struck a YusufzaiE
Wherefore they spat upon his face and led him out to dieF
It chanced the King went forth that hour when throat was bared to knifeD
The Kafir grovelled under hoof and clamoured for his lifeD
-
Then said the King Have hope O friend Yea Death disgraced is hardG
Much honour shall be thine and called the Captain of the GuardG
Yar Khan a bastard of the Blood so city babble saithH
And he was honoured of the King the which is salt to DeathH
And he was son of Daoud Shah the Reiver of the PlainsE
And blood of old Durani Lords ran fire in his veinsE
And 'twas to tame an Afghan pride nor Hell nor Heaven could bindI
The King would make him butcher to a yelping cur of HindI
-
Strike said the King King's blood art thou his death shall be his prideJ
Then louder that the crowd might catch Fear not his arms are tiedJ
Yar Khan drew clear the Khyber knife and struck and sheathed againK
O man thy will is done quoth he a King this dog hath slainL
-
Abdhur Rahman the Durani Chief to the North and the South is soldA
The North and the South shall open their mouth to a Ghilzai flag unrolledA
When the big guns speak to the Khyber peak and his dog Heratis flyF
Ye have heard the song How long How long Wolves of the AbazaiE
-
That night before the watch was set when all the streets were clearM
The Governor of Kabul spoke My King hast thou no fearM
Thou knowest thou hast heard his speech died at his master's faceE
And grimly said the Afghan King I rule the Afghan raceE
My path is mine see thou to thine To night upon thy bedA
Think who there be in Kabul now that clamour for thy headA
-
That night when all the gates were shut to City and to throneN
Within a little garden house the King lay down aloneN
Before the sinking of the moon which is the Night of NightA
Yar Khan came softly to the King to make his honour whiteA
The children of the town had mocked beneath his horse's hoofsE
The harlots of the town had hailed him butcher from their roofsE
But as he groped against the wall two hands upon him fellO
The King behind his shoulder spake Dead man thou dost not wellO
'Tis ill to jest with Kings by day and seek a boon by nightA
And that thou bearest in thy hand is all too sharp to writeA
But three days hence if God be good and if thy strength remainL
Thou shalt demand one boon of me and bless me in thy painL
For I am merciful to all and most of all to theeH
My butcher of the shambles rest no knife hast thou for meH
-
Abdhur Rahman the Durani Chief holds hard by the South and the NorthH
But the Ghilzai knows ere the melting snows when the swollen banks break forthH
When the red coats crawl to the sungar wall and his Usbeg lances failP
Ye have heard the song How long How long Wolves of the Zukka KheylP
-
They stoned him in the rubbish field when dawn was in the skyF
According to the written word See that he do not dieF
-
They stoned him till the stones were piled above him on the plainL
And those the labouring limbs displaced they tumbled back againK
-
One watched beside the dreary mound that veiled the battered thingQ
And him the King with laughter called the Herald of the KingQ
-
It was upon the second night the night of RamazanK
The watcher leaning earthward heard the message of Yar KhanK
From shattered breast through shrivelled lips broke forth the rattling breathH
Creature of God deliver me from agony of DeathH
-
They sought the King among his girls and risked their lives therebyF
Protector of the Pitiful give orders that he dieF
-
Bid him endure until the day a lagging answer cameR
The night is short and he can pray and learn to bless my nameR
-
Before the dawn three times he spoke and on the day once moreS
Creature of God deliver me and bless the King thereforS
-
They shot him at the morning prayer to ease him of his painK
And when he heard the matchlocks clink he blessed the King againK
-
Which thing the singers made a song for all the world to singQ
So that the Outer Seas may know the mercy of the KingQ
-
Abdhur Rahman the Durani Chief of him is the story toldA
He has opened his mouth to the North and the South they have stuffed his mouth with goldA
Ye know the truth of his tender ruth and sweet his favours areS
Ye have heard the song How long How long from Balkh to KandaharS

Rudyard Kipling



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