With Scindia To Delhi Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCAA DEFE GAGH IJIJ KLKL MNMN OPOP Q AQHP JPJP PRPR PQPQ MEME PAPA SPSP TPGP PQPQ UAPA VWVP XMXM JPJG YPYP ZJZJ

More than a hundred years ago in a great battle fought near DelhiA
an Indian Prince rode fifty miles after the day was lostB
with a beggar girl who had loved him and followed him in all his campsC
on his saddle bow He lost the girl when almost within sight of safetyA
A Maratta trooper tells the storyA
-
-
The wreath of banquet overnight lay withered on the neckD
Our hands and scarfs were saffron dyed for signal of despairE
When we went forth to Paniput to battle with the MlechF
Ere we came back from Paniput and left a kingdom thereE
-
Thrice thirty thousand men were we to force the Jumna fordsG
The hawk winged horse of Damajee mailed squadrons of the BhaoA
Stark levies of the southern hills the Deccan's sharpest swordsG
And he the harlot's traitor son the goatherd Mulhar RaoH
-
Thrice thirty thousand men were we before the mists had clearedI
The low white mists of morning heard the war conch scream and brayJ
We called upon Bhowani and we gripped them by the beardI
We rolled upon them like a flood and washed their ranks awayJ
-
The children of the hills of Khost before our lances ranK
We drove the black Rohillas back as cattle to the penL
'Twas then we needed Mulhar Rao to end what we beganK
A thousand men had saved the charge he fled the field with tenL
-
There was no room to clear a sword no power to strike a blowM
For foot to foot ay breast to breast the battle held us fastN
Save where the naked hill men ran and stabbing from belowM
Brought down the horse and rider and we trampled them and passedN
-
To left the roar of musketry rang like a falling floodO
To right the sunshine rippled red from redder lance and bladeP
Above the dark Upsaras flew beneath us plashed the bloodO
And bellying black against the dust the Bhagwa Jhanda swayedP
-
The Choosers of the SlainQ
-
I saw it fall in smoke and fire the banner of the BhaoA
I heard a voice across the press of one who called in vainQ
quot Ho Anand Rao Nimbalkhur ride Get aid of Mulhar RaoH
Go shame his squadrons into fight the Bhao the Bhao is slain quotP
-
Thereat as when a sand bar breaks in clotted spume and sprayJ
When rain of later autumn sweeps the Jumna water headP
Before their charge from flank to flank our riven ranks gave wayJ
But of the waters of that flood the Jumna fords ran redP
-
I held by Scindia my lord as close as man might holdP
A Soobah of the Deccan asks no aid to guard his lifeR
But Holkar's Horse were flying and our chiefest chiefs were coldP
And like a flame among us leapt the long lean Northern knifeR
-
I held by Scindia my lance from butt to tuft was dyedP
The froth of battle bossed the shield and roped the bridle chainQ
What time beneath our horses' feet a maiden rose and criedP
And clung to Scindia and I turned a sword cut from the twainQ
-
He set a spell upon the maid in woodlands long agoM
A hunter by the Tapti banks she gave him water thereE
He turned her heart to water and she followed to her woeM
What need had he of Lalun who had twenty maids as fairE
-
Now in that hour strength left my lord he wrenched his mare asideP
He bound the girl behind him and we slashed and struggled freeA
Across the reeling wreck of strife we rode as shadows rideP
From Paniput to Delhi town but not alone were weA
-
'Twas Lutuf Ullah Populzai laid horse upon our trackS
A swine fed reiver of the North that lusted for the maidP
I might have barred his path awhile but Scindia called me backS
And I O woe for Scindia I listened and obeyedP
-
League after league the formless scrub took shape and glided byT
League after league the white road swirled behind the white mare's feetP
League after league when leagues were done we heard the PopulzaiG
Where sure as Time and swift as Death the tireless footfall beatP
-
Noon's eye beheld that shame of flight the shadows fell we fledP
Where steadfast as the wheeling kite he followed in our trainQ
The black wolf warred where we had warred the jackal mocked our deadP
And terror born of twilight tide made mad the labouring brainQ
-
I gasped quot A kingdom waits my lord her love is but her ownU
A day shall mar a day shall cure for her but what for theeA
Cut loose the girl he follows fast Cut loose and ride alone quotP
Then Scindia 'twixt his blistered lips quot My Queens' Queen shall she beA
-
quot Of all who ate my bread last night 'twas she alone that cameV
To seek her love between the spears and find her crown thereinW
One shame is mine to day what need the weight of double shameV
If once we reach the Delhi gate though all be lost I win quotP
-
We rode the white mare failed her trot a staggering stumble grewX
The cooking smoke of even rose and weltered and hung lowM
And still we heard the Populzai and still we strained anewX
And Delhi town was very near but nearer was the foeM
-
Yea Delhi town was very near when Lalun whispered quot SlayJ
Lord of my life the mare sinks fast stab deep and let me die quotP
But Scindia would not and the maid tore free and flung awayJ
And turning as she fell we heard the clattering PopulzaiG
-
Then Scindia checked the gasping mare that rocked and groaned for breathY
And wheeled to charge and plunged the knife a hand's breadth in her sideP
The hunter and the hunted know how that last pause is deathY
The blood had chilled about her heart she reared and fell and diedP
-
Our Gods were kind Before he heard the maiden's piteous screamZ
A log upon the Delhi road beneath the mare he layJ
Lost mistress and lost battle passed before him like a dreamZ
The darkness closed about his eyes I bore my King awayJ

Rudyard Kipling



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