Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DERVIS AND THE KING; A TURKISH TALE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE DERVIS AND THE KING; A TURKISH TALE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: A pious dervis, once upon a time
Last Line: "is but a caravansary, after all!"
Subject(s): Turkey


A PIOUS Dervis, once upon a time,
Of all his sect the wisest and the best,
Journeyed, on foot, through many a foreign clime,
To serve his Master in some holy quest.

And so it chanced that on a certain day,
While plodding wearily along the road,
He saw before him, near the public way,
The house wherein the Tartar King abode.

Musing the while on some absorbing thought
That quite engrossed the pious pilgrim's mind,
The palace seemed -- just what the Dervis sought --
A caravansary of the better kind.

Entering the palace by an open door,
Straight to the gallery the Dervis goes,
Lays down his meagre wallet on the floor,
And spreads his blanket for a night's repose.

It chanced the King, soon after, passing by,
Observed the man, and with an angry air,
As one who sees a robber or a spy,
Bade him avow what business brought him there.

"My business here," the Dervis meekly said,
"Is but to rest, as any traveler might;
In this good tavern I have made my bed,
And here I mean to tarry for the night."

"A caravansary -- eh?" the King exclaimed
(His visage mantling with a royal grin),
"Now look around you, man, and be ashamed!
How could you take my palace for an inn?"

"Sire," said the Dervis (seeing his mistake),
"I purpose presently to answer this;
But grant me, first, the liberty to make
Some brief inquiries, if 't is not amiss.

"Pray tell me, Sire, who first resided here?"
"My ancestors, -- as the tradition goes."
"Who next?" "My father, -- that is very clear."
"Who next?" "Myself, -- as everybody knows."

"And who -- Heaven grant you many years to reign! --
Will occupy the house when you have done?"
"Why," said the monarch, "that is very plain, --
Of course 't will be the Prince, my only son!"

"Sire," said the Dervis, gravely, "I protest, --
Whate'er the building you may choose to call, --
A house that knows so many a transient guest,
Is but a caravansary, after all!"





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