Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NOBLEMAN, THE FISHERMAN, AND THE PORTER, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE NOBLEMAN, THE FISHERMAN, AND THE PORTER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: It was a famous nobleman
Last Line: On each succeeding year.
Subject(s): Legends, Italian


I.

IT was a famous nobleman
Who flourished in the East,
And once, upon a holiday,
He made a goodly feast,
And summoned in of kith and kin
A hundred at the least.

II.

Now while they sat in social chat
Discoursing frank and free,
In came the steward, with a bow,
"A man below," said he,
"Has got, my lord, the finest fish
That ever swam the sea!"

III.

"Indeed!" exclaimed the nobleman,
"Then buy it in a trice;
The finest fish that ever swam
Must needs be very nice;
Go, buy it of the fisherman,
And never mind the price."

IV.

"And so I would," the steward said,
"But, faith, he would n't hear
A word of money for his fish,
(Was ever man so queer?)
But said he thought a hundred stripes
Could not be counted dear!"

V.

'Go bring him here," my lord replied;
"The man I fain would see;
A merry wag, by your report,
This fisherman must be."
"Go bring him here! Go bring him here!"
Cried all the company.

VI.

The steward did as he was bid,
When thus my lord began:
"For this fine fish what may you wish?
I'll buy it, if I can."
"One hundred lashes on my back!"
Exclaimed the fisherman.

VII.

"Now, by the Rood! but this is good,"
The laughing lord replied;
"Well, let the fellow have his way;
Go, call a groom!" he cried;
"But let the payment he demands
Be modestly applied."

VIII.

He bared his back and took the lash
As it were merry play;
But at the fiftieth stroke, he said,
"Good master groom, I pray
Desist a moment, if you please;
I have a word to say.

IX.

"I have a partner in the case, --
The fellow standing there;
Pray take the jacket off his back,
And let him have his share;
That one of us should take the whole
Were surely hardly fair!"

X.

"A partner?" cried the nobleman,
"Who can the fellow mean?"
"I mean," replied the fisherman,
With countenance serene,
"Your Porter there! the biggest knave
That ever yet was seen.

XI.

"The rogue who stopped me at the gate,
And would n't let me in
Until I swore to give him half
Of all my fish should win.
I've got my share! Pray let, my lord,
His payment now begin!"

XII.

"What you propose," my lord replied,
"Is nothing more than fair;
Here, groom, -- lay on a hundred stripes,
And mind you do not spare.
The scurvy dog shall never say
He did n't get his share!"

XIII.

Then all that goodly company
They laughed with might and main,
The while beneath the stinging lash
The porter writhed in pain.
"So fare all villians," quoth my lord,
"Who seek dishonest gain!"

XIV.

Then, turning to the fisherman,
Who still was standing near,
He filled his hand with golden coins,
Some twenty sequins clear,
And bade him come and take the like
On each succeeding year.





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