The Epic Of The Lion Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AABBCCCDDEEF G GGHHIIIIJJKKKLLMMC CIINO PQQIIRRSSCCTTUUVVLLI WQDXXYYZZA2 B2B2C2C2C2UD2D2C2B2 C2C2E2E2BBIMMIIFFC2C 2C2C2IB IBBIFMMC2C2DC2 B2B2C2C2B2B2C2C2C2C2 C2C2F2F2C2C2B| A Lion in his jaws caught up a child | A |
| Not harming it and to the woodland wild | A |
| With secret streams and lairs bore off his prey | B |
| The beast as one might cull a bud in May | B |
| It was a rosy boy a king's own pride | C |
| A ten year lad with bright eyes shining wide | C |
| And save this son his majesty beside | C |
| Had but one girl two years of age and so | D |
| The monarch suffered being old much woe | D |
| His heir the monster's prey while the whole land | E |
| In dread both of the beast and king did stand | E |
| Sore terrified were all | F |
| - | |
| By came a knight | G |
| That road who halted asking 'What's the fright ' | - |
| They told him and he spurred straight for the site | G |
| The beast was seen to smile ere joined they fight | G |
| The man and monster in most desperate duel | H |
| Like warring giants angry huge and cruel | H |
| Stout though the knight the lion stronger was | I |
| And tore that brave breast under its cuirass | I |
| Scrunching that hero till he sprawled alas | I |
| Beneath his shield all blood and mud and mess | I |
| Whereat the lion feasted then it went | J |
| Back to its rocky couch and slept content | J |
| Sudden loud cries and clamors striking out | K |
| Qualm to the heart of the quiet horn and shout | K |
| Causing the solemn wood to reel with rout | K |
| Terrific was this noise that rolled before | L |
| It seemed a squadron nay 'twas something more | L |
| A whole battalion sent by that sad king | M |
| With force of arms his little prince to bring | M |
| Together with the lion's bleeding hide | C |
| - | |
| Which here was right or wrong Who can decide | C |
| Have beasts or men most claim to live God wots | I |
| He is the unit we the cipher dots | I |
| Ranged in the order a great hunt should have | N |
| They soon between the trunks espy the cave | O |
| 'Yes that is it the very mouth of the den ' | - |
| The trees all round it muttered warning men | P |
| Still they kept step and neared it Look you now | Q |
| Company's pleasant and there were a thou | Q |
| Good Lord all in a moment there's its face | I |
| Frightful they saw the lion Not one pace | I |
| Further stirred any man but bolt and dart | R |
| Made target of the beast He on his part | R |
| As calm as Pelion in the rain or hail | S |
| Bristled majestic from the teeth to tail | S |
| And shook full fifty missiles from his hide | C |
| But no heed took he steadfastly he eyed | C |
| And roared a roar hoarse vibrant vengeful dread | T |
| A rolling raging peal of wrath which spread | T |
| Making the half awakened thunder cry | U |
| 'Who thunders there ' from its black bed of sky | U |
| This ended all Sheer horror cleared the coast | V |
| As fogs are driven by the wind that valorous host | V |
| Melted dispersed to all the quarters four | L |
| Clean panic stricken by that monstrous roar | L |
| Then quoth the lion 'Woods and mountains see | I |
| A thousand men enslaved fear one beast free ' | - |
| He followed towards the hill climbed high above | W |
| Lifted his voice and as the sowers sow | Q |
| The seed down wind thus did that lion throw | D |
| His message far enough the town to reach | X |
| 'King your behavior really passes speech | X |
| Thus far no harm I've wrought to him your son | Y |
| But now I give you notice when night's done | Y |
| I will make entry at your city gate | Z |
| Bringing the prince alive and those who wait | Z |
| To see him in my jaws your lackey crew | A2 |
| Shall see me eat him in your palace too ' | - |
| Next morning this is what was viewed in town | B2 |
| Dawn coming people going some adown | B2 |
| Praying some crying pallid cheeks swift feet | C2 |
| And a huge lion stalking through the street | C2 |
| It seemed scarce short of rash impiety | C2 |
| To cross its path as the fierce beast went by | U |
| So to the palace and its gilded dome | D2 |
| With stately steps unchallenged did he roam | D2 |
| He enters it within those walls he leapt | C2 |
| No man | B2 |
| - | |
| For certes though he raged and wept | C2 |
| His majesty like all close shelter kept | C2 |
| Solicitous to live holding his breath | E2 |
| Specially precious to the realm Now death | E2 |
| Is not thus viewed by honest beasts of prey | B |
| And when the lion found him fled away | B |
| Ashamed to be so grand man being so base | I |
| He muttered to himself 'A wretched king | M |
| 'Tis well I'll eat his boy ' Then wandering | M |
| Lordly he traversed courts and corridors | I |
| Paced beneath vaults of gold on shining floors | I |
| Glanced at the throne deserted stalked from hall | F |
| To hall green yellow crimson empty all | F |
| Rich couches void soft seats unoccupied | C2 |
| And as he walked he looked from side to side | C2 |
| To find some pleasant nook for his repast | C2 |
| Since appetite was come to munch at last | C2 |
| The princely morsel Ah what sight astounds | I |
| That grisly lounger | B |
| - | |
| In the palace grounds | I |
| An alcove on a garden gives and there | B |
| A tiny thing forgot in the general fear | B |
| Lulled in the flower sweet dreams of infancy | I |
| Bathed with soft sunlight falling brokenly | F |
| Through leaf and lattice was at that moment waking | M |
| A little lovely maid most dear and taking | M |
| The prince's sister all alone undressed | C2 |
| She sat up singing children sing so best | C2 |
| Charming this beauteous baby maid and so | D |
| The beast caught sight of her and stopped | C2 |
| - | |
| And then | B2 |
| Entered the floor creaked as he stalked straight in | B2 |
| Above the playthings by the little bed | C2 |
| The lion put his shaggy massive head | C2 |
| Dreadful with savage might and lordly scorn | B2 |
| More dreadful with that princely prey so borne | B2 |
| Which she quick spying 'Brother brother ' cried | C2 |
| 'Oh my own brother ' and unterrified | C2 |
| She gazed upon that monster of the wood | C2 |
| Whose yellow balls not Typhon had withstood | C2 |
| And well who knows what thoughts these small heads hold | C2 |
| She rose up in her cot full height and bold | C2 |
| And shook her pink fist angrily at him | F2 |
| Whereon close to the little bed's white rim | F2 |
| All dainty silk and laces this huge brute | C2 |
| Set down her brother gently at her foot | C2 |
| Just as a mother might and said to her | B |
| 'Don't be put out now There he is dear there ' | - |
Victor Marie Hugo
(1)
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