'The Rhyme Of The Three Captains' by Rudyard Kipling
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
. . . At the close of a winter day,
Their anchors down, by London town, the Three Great Captains lay;
And one was Admiral of the North from Solway Firth to Skye,
And one was Lord of the Wessex coast and all the lands thereby,
And one was Master of the Thames from Limehouse to Blackwall,
And he was Captain of the Fleet -- the bravest of them all.
Their good guns guarded their great gray sides
that were thirty foot in the sheer,
When there came a certain trading-brig with news of a privateer.
Her rigging was rough with the clotted drift that drives in a Northern breeze,
Her sides were clogged with the lazy weed that spawns in the Eastern seas.
Light she rode in the rude tide-rip, to left and right she rolled,
And the skipper sat on the scuttle-butt and stared at an empty hold.
"I ha' paid Port dues for your Law," quoth he, "and where is the Law ye boast
If I sail unscathed from a heathen port to be robbed on a Christian coast?
Ye have smoked the hives of the Laccadives as we burn the lice in a bunk,
We tack not now to a Gallang prow or a plunging Pei-ho junk;
I had no fear but the seas were clear as far as a sail might fare
Till I met with a lime-washed Yankee brig that rode off Finisterre.
There were canvas blinds to his bow-gun ports to screen the weight he bore,
And the signals ran for a merchantman from Sandy Hook to the Nore.
He would not fly the Rovers' flag -- the bloody or the black,
But now he floated the Gridiron and now he flaunted the Jack.
He spoke of the Law as he crimped my crew -- he swore it was only a loan;
But when I would ask for my own again, he swore it was none of my own.
He has taken my little parrakeets that nest beneath the Line,
He has stripped my rails of the shaddock-frails and the green unripened pine;
He has taken my bale of dammer and spice I won beyond the seas,
He has taken my grinning heathen gods -- and what should he want o' these?
My foremast would not mend his boom, my deckhouse patch his boats;
He has whittled the two, this Yank Yahoo, to peddle for shoe-peg oats.
I could not fight for the failing light and a rough beam-sea beside,
But I hulled him once for a clumsy crimp and twice because he lied.
Had I had guns (as I had goods) to work my Christian harm,
I had run him up from his quarter-deck to trade with his own yard-arm;
I had nailed his ears to my capstan-head, and ripped them off with a saw,
And soused them in the bilgewater, and served them to him raw;
I had flung him blind in a rudderless boat to rot in the rocking dark,
I had towed him aft of his own craft, a bait for his brother shark;
I had lapped him round with cocoa husk, and drenched him with the oil,
And lashed him fast to his own mast to blaze above my spoil;
I had stripped his hide for my hammock-side,
and tasselled his beard i' the mesh,
And spitted his crew on the live bamboo
that grows through the gangrened flesh;
I had hove him down by the mangroves brown,
where the mud-reef sucks and draws,
Moored by the heel to his own keel to wait for the land-crab's claws!
He is lazar within and lime without, ye can nose him far enow,
For he carries the taint of a musky ship -- the reek of the slaver's dhow!"
The skipper looked at the tiering guns and the bulwarks tall and cold,
And the Captains Three full courteously peered down at the gutted hold,
And the Captains Three called courteously from deck to scuttle-butt: --
"Good Sir, we ha' dealt with that merchantman or ever your teeth were cut.
Your words be words of a lawless race, and the Law it standeth thus:
He comes of a race that have never a Law, and he never has boarded us.
We ha' sold him canvas and rope and spar -- we know that his price is fair,
And we know that he weeps for the lack of a Law as he rides off Finisterre.
And since he is damned for a gallows-thief by you and better than you,
We hold it meet that the English fleet should know that we hold him true."
The skipper called to the tall taffrail: -- "And what is that to me?
Did ever you hear of a Yankee brig that rifled a Seventy-three?
Do I loom so large from your quarter-deck that I lift like a ship o' the Line?
He has learned to run from a shotted gun and harry such craft as mine.
There is never a Law on the Cocos Keys to hold a white man in,
But we do not steal the niggers' meal, for that is a nigger's sin.
Must he have his Law as a quid to chaw, or laid in brass on his wheel?
Does he steal with tears when he buccaneers?
'Fore Gad, then, why does he steal?"
The skipper bit on a deep-sea word, and the word it was not sweet,
For he could see the Captains Three had signalled to the Fleet.
But three and two, in white and blue, the whimpering flags began: --
"We have heard a tale of a -- foreign sail, but he is a merchantman."
The skipper peered beneath his palm and swore by the Great Horn Spoon: --
"'Fore Gad, the Chaplain of the Fleet would bless my picaroon!"
By two and three the flags blew free to lash the laughing air: --
"We have sold our spars to the merchantman -- we know that his price is fair."
The skipper winked his Western eye, and swore by a China storm: --
"They ha' rigged him a Joseph's jury-coat to keep his honour warm."
The halliards twanged against the tops, the bunting bellied broad,
The skipper spat in the empty hold and mourned for a wasted cord.
Masthead -- masthead, the signal sped by the line o' the British craft;
The skipper called to his Lascar crew, and put her about and laughed: --
"It's mainsail haul, my bully boys all -- we'll out to the seas again --
Ere they set us to paint their pirate saint, or scrub at his grapnel-chain.
It's fore-sheet free, with her head to the sea,
and the swing of the unbought brine --
We'll make no sport in an English court till we come as a ship o' the Line:
Till we come as a ship o' the Line, my lads, of thirty foot in the sheer,
Lifting again from the outer main with news of a privateer;
Flying his pluck at our mizzen-truck for weft of Admiralty,
Heaving his head for our dipsey-lead in sign that we keep the sea.
Then fore-sheet home as she lifts to the foam -- we stand on the outward tack,
We are paid in the coin of the white man's trade --
the bezant is hard, ay, and black.
The frigate-bird shall carry my word to the Kling and the Orang-Laut
How a man may sail from a heathen coast to be robbed in a Christian port;
How a man may be robbed in Christian port while Three Great Captains there
Shall dip their flag to a slaver's rag -- to show that his trade is fair!"
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Rhyme of the Three Captains: A Literary Wonder
Rudyard Kipling’s “The Rhyme of the Three Captains” is a timeless masterpiece that has continued to captivate audiences for generations. The poem is a perfect example of Kipling’s skill in using vivid imagery, symbolism, and figurative language to create a powerful narrative. It tells the story of three captains who set out to conquer the sea, but only one returns to tell the tale. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve deeper into the themes, symbols, and imagery of this classic poem.
Themes
One of the central themes of “The Rhyme of the Three Captains” is the cost of ambition. The three captains are driven by their desire to conquer the sea and become famous, but their ambition comes at a great cost. Two of the captains lose their lives in the pursuit of their dreams, while the survivor is left with the guilt of abandoning his comrades. Kipling drives this point home through the repeated use of the phrase “who shall return us our children?” which highlights the tragic consequences of ambition.
Another theme that emerges from the poem is the futility of war. The three captains are engaged in a battle with the sea, but their struggle can be seen as a microcosm of the larger battles and wars that humanity engages in. Kipling portrays war as a futile and destructive endeavor that only leads to loss and sorrow.
Symbolism
Kipling uses a number of symbols in “The Rhyme of the Three Captains” to convey his themes. Perhaps the most prominent symbol in the poem is the sea itself. The sea represents both the source of the captains’ ambition and the destructive force that ultimately claims their lives. It is an unpredictable and uncontrollable force that serves as a metaphor for the chaos and uncertainty of life.
Another symbol that appears in the poem is the captain’s hat. The hat represents the captain’s authority and status, and it is a symbol of their ambition and desire for recognition. However, the hat also becomes a symbol of their downfall, as it is the only thing that remains of the two captains who perish at sea.
Imagery
Kipling’s use of vivid imagery is one of the things that makes “The Rhyme of the Three Captains” such a powerful poem. The opening lines of the poem, which describe the “tumbled graves” of the sailors who have perished at sea, immediately create a sense of foreboding and danger. Throughout the poem, Kipling uses imagery to create a vivid picture of the sea and the sailors’ struggle to conquer it.
One of the most striking images in the poem is the description of the two captains clinging to their ship as it sinks beneath the waves. Kipling describes the “clenched teeth and desperate grip” of the captains as they struggle to stay afloat, creating a visceral image of their struggle and desperation.
Interpretation
“The Rhyme of the Three Captains” is a poem that can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one’s perspective. From one perspective, the poem can be seen as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ambition and the futility of war. The three captains are driven by their desire for fame and recognition, but their ambition ultimately leads to their destruction.
From another perspective, the poem can be seen as a celebration of the human spirit. Despite the danger and uncertainty of the sea, the captains are determined to conquer it and achieve their goals. Even in the face of death, they refuse to give up and continue to fight until the bitter end.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Rhyme of the Three Captains” is a literary wonder that continues to captivate readers and audiences to this day. With its powerful themes, vivid imagery, and masterful use of symbolism and figurative language, it is a poem that speaks to the human experience in a profound and timeless way. Whether read as a cautionary tale or a celebration of human resilience, it is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Rhyme of the Three Captains: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is known for his exceptional storytelling and poetic skills. One of his most celebrated works is "The Rhyme of the Three Captains," a poem that tells the story of three captains who set sail on a voyage to find treasure. The poem is a masterpiece of poetry, and its intricate rhyme scheme and vivid imagery make it a timeless classic.
The poem begins with the introduction of the three captains, each with their own unique personality and background. The first captain is a seasoned sailor who has seen many battles and is eager to find treasure. The second captain is a young and inexperienced sailor who is excited to embark on his first adventure. The third captain is a wise old man who has seen the world and knows the dangers that lie ahead.
As the three captains set sail, they encounter a fierce storm that threatens to sink their ship. The first captain is determined to push through the storm and continue their journey, while the second captain is scared and wants to turn back. The third captain, however, knows that they must weather the storm and stay the course.
The storm eventually subsides, and the three captains continue on their journey. They encounter many obstacles along the way, including treacherous waters and hostile pirates. But through it all, the three captains remain steadfast and determined to find the treasure they seek.
The poem's rhyme scheme is intricate and complex, with each stanza following an ABABCC pattern. This pattern creates a musical quality to the poem, and the use of repetition and alliteration adds to its lyrical quality. The poem's rhythm and rhyme scheme make it easy to read and memorize, which is why it has remained a beloved classic for over a century.
The poem's imagery is also exceptional, with Kipling using vivid descriptions to bring the story to life. For example, in the following stanza, Kipling describes the storm that the three captains encounter:
"The wind was screaming, the waves were high, And the lightning played on the seaman's eye; The sea was as dark as the sky was blue, And there was nought but the waves and the wind and the crew."
This description creates a vivid picture in the reader's mind of the stormy sea and the sailors struggling to stay afloat. Kipling's use of imagery throughout the poem adds depth and richness to the story, making it a truly immersive experience for the reader.
Another notable aspect of the poem is its themes of courage, perseverance, and the importance of teamwork. The three captains each have their own strengths and weaknesses, but together they are able to overcome the challenges they face. The poem emphasizes the importance of working together and supporting one another, even in the face of adversity.
In conclusion, "The Rhyme of the Three Captains" is a masterpiece of poetry that has stood the test of time. Its intricate rhyme scheme, vivid imagery, and themes of courage and teamwork make it a timeless classic that continues to inspire readers today. Kipling's storytelling skills are on full display in this poem, and it is a testament to his talent as a writer. If you haven't read "The Rhyme of the Three Captains" yet, do yourself a favor and experience this exceptional work of poetry for yourself.
Editor Recommended Sites
Roleplaying Games - Highest Rated Roleplaying Games & Top Ranking Roleplaying Games: Find the best Roleplaying Games of All timeDev Wish I had known: What I wished I known before I started working on
Cost Calculator - Cloud Cost calculator to compare AWS, GCP, Azure: Compare costs across clouds
Deploy Multi Cloud: Multicloud deployment using various cloud tools. How to manage infrastructure across clouds
Coin Payments App - Best Crypto Payment Merchants & Best Storefront Crypto APIs: Interface with crypto merchants to accept crypto on your sites
Recommended Similar Analysis
Publication-is the Auction by Emily Dickinson analysis"Surprised by Joy--Impatient as the Wind" by William Wordsworth analysis
Volcanoes be in Sicily by Emily Dickinson analysis
Democracy by Langston Hughes analysis
TO MUSIC by Robert Herrick analysis
The Kraken by Alfred, Lord Tennyson analysis
Emmett Till * by James A. Emanuel analysis
Song To Celia - II by Ben Jonson analysis
Adonais by Percy Bysshe Shelley analysis
Buttons by Carl Sandburg analysis