Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, PERSEVERE AND PROSPER; AN ARABIAN TALE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

PERSEVERE AND PROSPER; AN ARABIAN TALE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: To the manly will there's ever a way!
Last Line: Of a strong, untiring will!
Subject(s): Perseverance


"To the manly will there's ever a way!"
Said a simple Arab youth;
"And I'm going to try, this very day,
If my teacher tells the truth:
He's always saying, -- the good old man, --
'Now, please remember, my dear,
You are sure to win, whatever you plan,
If you steadily persevere!'

"I mean to try it, -- upon my life!
If I go through fire and water;
And, since I wish to marry a wife,
I'll have the Calif's daughter!"
So off to the Vizier straight he goes,
Who only laughed at the lad;
And said him "Nay," -- as you may suppose, --
For he thought the fellow was mad!

And still for many and many a day
He came to plead his case,
But the Vizier only answered "Nay,"
And laughed him in the face.
At last, the Calif came across
The youth in the Vizier's hall,
And, asking what his errand was,
The Vizier told him all.

"Now, by my head!" the Calif said,
"'T is only the wise and great
A Calif's daughter may ask to wed,
For rank with rank must mate;
Unless, mayhap, some valiant deed
May serve for an equal claim
(For merit, I own, should have its meed,
And princes yield to Fame).

"In the Tigris once a gem was lost,
'T was ages and ages since,
A Ruby of wondrous size and cost,
And fit for the noblest prince;
That gem, my lad, must surely be
Somewhere beneath the water, --
Go find it, boy, and bring it to me;
Then come and marry my daughter!"

"And so I will!" the lad replied,
And off to the river he ran;
And he dips away at the foamy tide,
As fast as ever he can:
With a little cup he dips away;
Now, what's the fellow about?
He's going to find the gem, some day,
By draining the Tigris out!

And still he dips by day and night,
Till the fishes begin to cry,
"This fellow is such a willful wight,
He'll dip the river dry!"
And so they sent their monarch to say
(A wise and reverend fish),
"Now why are you dipping our water away?
And what do you please to wish?"

"I want the Ruby, sir," he cried.
"Well, please to let us alone,
And stop your dipping," the fish-king cried,
"And the gem shall be your own!"
And he fetched the Ruby, of wondrous size,
From out the foamy water;
And so the lad obtained his prize,
And married the Calif's daughter!

L'ENVOI.

This pleasant story was meant to teach
That pluck is more than skill;
And few are the ends beyond the reach
Of a strong, untiring will!





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net