I. IT was a merry monarch Who ruled a distant land, And ever, for his pastime, Some new device he planned, And once, to all his servants, He gave this queer command. II. Quoth he: "To every stranger Who comes unto my court Let a fried fish be given, And of the finest sort; Then mark the man's behavior, And bring me due report. III. "If, when the man has eaten The fish unto the bone, The glutton turns it over, -- Then, by my royal throne, For this, his misdemeanor, The gallows shall atone!" IV. Now when this regal mandate, According to report, Had slain a score of strangers, To serve the monarch's sport, It chanced a gay young Marquis Came to the royal court. V. His Majesty received him As suited with his state, But when he sat at dinner, The fish was on the plate; Alas! he turns it over, Unconscious of his fate. VI. Then, to his dire amazement, Three guardsmen, standing nigh, Conveyed him straight to prison, And plainly told him why, -- And how, in retribution, That he was doomed to die! VII. The Marquis, filled with sorrow, Implored the monarch's ruth, Whereat the King relented (A gracious deed, in sooth!) And granted these conditions, In pity of his youth: -- VIII. That for three days the culprit Should have the King's reprieve; Also, to name three wishes The prisoner had leave, -- One each succeeding morning, -- The which he should receive. IX. "Thanks!" said the grateful Marquis "His Majesty is kind; And, first, to wed his daughter Is what I have in mind; Go, bid him fetch a parson The holy tie to bind." X. Now when the merry Monarch This bold demand had heard, With grief and indignation His royal breast was stirred; But he had pledged his honor, And so he kept his word. XI. Now, if the first petition He reckoned rather bold, What was the King's amazement To hear the second told, -- To wit, the monarch's treasure Of silver and of gold! XII. To beg the culprit's mercy This mighty king was fain; But pleading and remonstrance Were uttered all in vain; And so he gave the treasure It cost him years to gain. XIII. Sure ne'er was mortal Monarch In such dismay as he! He woke next morning early And went himself to see What, in the name of wonder, The third demand would be. XIV. "I ask," replied the Marquis, "(My third and final wish), That you should call the servants Who served the fatal dish, And have the eyes extinguished That saw me turn the Fish." XV. "Good!" said the monarch gayly, With obvious delight, "What you demand, Sir Marquis, Is reasonable, quite; That they should pay this forfeit Is nothing more than right. XVI. "How was it, -- Mr. Chamberlain?" But he at once denied That he had seen the culprit Turn up the other side; "It must have been the Steward," The Chamberlain replied. XVII. "Indeed!" exclaimed the Steward, "It surely was n't I! It must have been the Butler!" -- Who quickly made reply, "It must have been the guardsmen, Unless the fellows lie!" XVIII. But they, in turn, protested, With plausible surprise, (And dreadful imprecations, If they were telling lies!) That nothing of the matter Had come before their eyes. XIX. "Good father," said the Princess, "I pray you ponder this" (And here she gave the monarch A reverential kiss), "My husband must be guiltless, If none saw aught amiss!" XX. The monarch frowned a little, And gravely shook his head: "Your Marquis should be punished; Well, -- let him live," he said, "For though he cheats the gallows, The man, at least, is wed!" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HAD I THE CHOICE (AFTER WALT WHITMAN) by GEORGE SANTAYANA GOING AND STAYING by THOMAS HARDY HUGH SELWYN MAUBERLEY: 6. YEUX GLAUQUES by EZRA POUND SENTINEL SONGS: 1 by ABRAM JOSEPH RYAN THE NOTHING REDEMPTION by BRUCE WEIGL THE GLORIOUS TOUCHDOWN by GEORGE ADE PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 53. ALLAH-AL-WAKIL by EDWIN ARNOLD |