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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE JESTER CONDEMNED TO DEATH, by HORACE SMITH Poet's Biography First Line: One of the kings of scanderoon Last Line: "I'll die, so please you, of old age." Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Horatio Subject(s): Death; Jesters; Sin; Dead, The | |||
ONE of the Kings of Scanderoon, A royal jester, Had in his train a gross buffoon, Who used to pester The court with tricks inopportune, Venting on the highest folks his Scurvy pleasantries and hoaxes. It needs some sense to play the fool; Which wholesome rule Occurred not to our jackanapes, Who consequently found his freaks Lead to innumerable scrapes, And quite as many kicks and tweaks, Which only seemed to make him faster Try the patience of his master. Some sin at last beyond all measure, Incurred the desperate displeasure Of his serene and raging highness: Whether the wag had twitched his beard, Which he was bound to have revered, Or had intruded on the shyness Of the seraglio, or let fly An epigram at royalty, None knows -- his sin was an occult one; But records tell us that the sultan, Meaning to terrify the knave, Exclaimed -- "'Tis time to stop that breath; Thy doom is sealed; -- presumptuous slave! Thou stand'st condemned to certain death. Silence, base rebel! -- no replying! -- But such is my indulgence still, That, of my own free grace and will, I leave to thee the mode of dying." "Thy royal will be done -- 'tis just," Replied the wretch, and kissed the dust; "Since my last moments to assuage, Your majesty's humane decree Has deigned to leave the choice to me, I'll die, so please you, of old age." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...A FRIEND KILLED IN THE WAR by ANTHONY HECHT FOR JAMES MERRILL: AN ADIEU by ANTHONY HECHT TARANTULA: OR THE DANCE OF DEATH by ANTHONY HECHT CHAMPS D?ÇÖHONNEUR by ERNEST HEMINGWAY NOTE TO REALITY by TONY HOAGLAND ADDRESS TO THE MUMMY AT BELZONI'S EXHIBITION by HORACE SMITH |
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