King Canute Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: AAA BBB CCC DDD E E FF GHG I JJJ KKK L M NNN OO F PPP E QQQ PPP EE PPP I PP AAA EEER| KING CANUTE was weary hearted he had reigned for years a score | A |
| Battling struggling pushing fighting killing much and robbing more | A |
| And he thought upon his actions walking by the wild sea shore | A |
| - | |
| 'Twixt the Chancellor and Bishop walked the King with steps sedate | B |
| Chamberlains and grooms came after silversticks and goldsticks great | B |
| Chaplains aides de camp and pages all the officers of state | B |
| - | |
| Sliding after like his shadow pausing when he chose to pause | C |
| If a frown his face contracted straight the courtiers dropped their jaws | C |
| If to laugh the king was minded out they burst in loud hee haws | C |
| - | |
| But that day a something vexed him that was clear to old and young | D |
| Thrice his Grace had yawned at table when his favorite gleemen sung | D |
| Once the Queen would have consoled him but he bade her hold her tongue | D |
| - | |
| 'Something ails my gracious master ' cried the Keeper of the Seal | E |
| 'Sure my lord it is the lampreys served to dinner or the veal ' | - |
| 'Psha ' exclaimed the angry monarch 'Keeper 'tis not that I feel | E |
| - | |
| ''Tis the HEART and not the dinner fool that doth my rest impair | F |
| Can a king be great as I am prithee and yet know no care | F |
| Oh I'm sick and tired and weary ' Some one cried 'The King's arm chair ' | - |
| - | |
| Then towards the lackeys turning quick my Lord the Keeper nodded | G |
| Straight the King's great chair was brought him by two footmen able bodied | H |
| Languidly he sank into it it was comfortably wadded | G |
| - | |
| 'Leading on my fierce companions ' cried he 'over storm and brine | I |
| I have fought and I have conquered Where was glory like to mine ' | - |
| Loudly all the courtiers echoed 'Where is glory like to thine ' | - |
| - | |
| 'What avail me all my kingdoms Weary am I now and old | J |
| Those fair sons I have begotten long to see me dead and cold | J |
| Would I were and quiet buried underneath the silent mould | J |
| - | |
| 'Oh remorse the writhing serpent at my bosom tears and bites | K |
| Horrid horrid things I look on though I put out all the lights | K |
| Ghosts of ghastly recollections troop about my bed at nights | K |
| - | |
| 'Cities burning convents blazing red with sacrilegious fires | L |
| Mothers weeping virgins screaming vainly for their slaughtered sires ' | - |
| Such a tender conscience ' cries the Bishop 'every one admires | M |
| - | |
| 'But for such unpleasant bygones cease my gracious lord to search | N |
| They're forgotten and forgiven by our Holy Mother Church | N |
| Never never does she leave her benefactors in the lurch | N |
| - | |
| 'Look the land is crowned with minsters which your Grace's bounty raised | O |
| Abbeys filled with holy men where you and Heaven are daily praised | O |
| YOU my lord to think of dying on my conscience I'm amazed ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Nay I feel ' replied King Canute 'that my end is drawing near ' | - |
| 'Don't say so ' exclaimed the courtiers striving each to squeeze a tear | F |
| 'Sure your Grace is strong and lusty and may live this fifty year ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Live these fifty years ' the Bishop roared with actions made to suit | P |
| 'Are you mad my good Lord Keeper thus to speak of King Canute | P |
| Men have lived a thousand years and sure his Majesty will do't | P |
| - | |
| 'Adam Enoch Lamech Cainan Mahaleel Methusela | E |
| Lived nine hundred years apiece and mayn't the King as well as they ' | - |
| 'Fervently ' exclaimed the Keeper 'fervently I trust he may ' | - |
| - | |
| 'HE to die ' resumed the Bishop He a mortal like to US | Q |
| Death was not for him intended though communis omnibus | Q |
| Keeper you are irreligious for to talk and cavil thus | Q |
| - | |
| 'With his wondrous skill in healing ne'er a doctor can compete | P |
| Loathsome lepers if he touch them start up clean upon their feet | P |
| Surely he could raise the dead up did his Highness think it meet | P |
| - | |
| 'Did not once the Jewish captain stay the sun upon the hill | E |
| And the while he slew the foemen bid the silver moon stand still | E |
| So no doubt could gracious Canute if it were his sacred will ' | - |
| - | |
| 'Might I stay the sun above us good sir Bishop ' Canute cried | P |
| 'Could I bid the silver moon to pause upon her heavenly ride | P |
| If the moon obeys my orders sure I can command the tide | P |
| - | |
| 'Will the advancing waves obey me Bishop if I make the sign ' | - |
| Said the Bishop bowing lowly 'Land and sea my lord are thine ' | - |
| Canute turned towards the ocean 'Back ' he said 'thou foaming brine | I |
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| 'From the sacred shore I stand on I command thee to retreat | P |
| Venture not thou stormy rebel to approach thy master's seat | P |
| Ocean be thou still I bid thee come not nearer to my feet ' | - |
| - | |
| But the sullen ocean answered with a louder deeper roar | A |
| And the rapid waves drew nearer falling sounding on the shore | A |
| Back the Keeper and the Bishop back the king and courtiers bore | A |
| - | |
| And he sternly bade them never more to kneel to human clay | E |
| But alone to praise and worship That which earth and seas obey | E |
| And his golden crown of empire never wore he from that day | E |
| King Canute is dead and gone Parasites exist alway | R |
William Makepeace Thackeray
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