'The Ballad Of The King's Mercy' by Rudyard Kipling
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Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, of him is the story told.
His mercy fills the Khyber hills -- his grace is manifold;
He has taken toll of the North and the South --
his glory reacheth far,
And they tell the tale of his charity from Balkh to Kandahar.
Before the old Peshawur Gate, where Kurd and Kaffir meet,
The Governor of Kabul dealt the Justice of the Street,
And that was strait as running noose and swift as plunging knife,
Tho' he who held the longer purse might hold the longer life.
There was a hound of Hindustan had struck a Euzufzai,
Wherefore they spat upon his face and led him out to die.
It chanced the King went forth that hour when throat was bared to knife;
The Kaffir grovelled under-hoof and clamoured for his life.
Then said the King:"Have hope, O friend!Yea, Death disgraced is hard;
Much honour shall be thine"; and called the Captain of the Guard,
Yar Khan, a bastard of the Blood, so city-babble saith,
And he was honoured of the King -- the which is salt to Death;
And he was son of Daoud Shah, the Reiver of the Plains,
And blood of old Durani Lords ran fire in his veins;
And 'twas to tame an Afghan pride nor Hell nor Heaven could bind,
The King would make him butcher to a yelping cur of Hind.
"Strike!" said the King."King's blood art thou --
his death shall be his pride!"
Then louder, that the crowd might catch:"Fear not -- his arms are tied!"
Yar Khan drew clear the Khyber knife, and struck, and sheathed again.
"O man, thy will is done," quoth he; "a King this dog hath slain."
Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, to the North and the South is sold.
The North and the South shall open their mouth
to a Ghilzai flag unrolled,
When the big guns speak to the Khyber peak, and his dog-Heratis fly:
Ye have heard the song -- How long?How long?
Wolves of the Abazai!
That night before the watch was set, when all the streets were clear,
The Governor of Kabul spoke:"My King, hast thou no fear?
Thou knowest -- thou hast heard," -- his speech died at his master's face.
And grimly said the Afghan King:"I rule the Afghan race.
My path is mine -- see thou to thine -- to-night upon thy bed
Think who there be in Kabul now that clamour for thy head."
That night when all the gates were shut to City and to throne,
Within a little garden-house the King lay down alone.
Before the sinking of the moon, which is the Night of Night,
Yar Khan came softly to the King to make his honour white.
The children of the town had mocked beneath his horse's hoofs,
The harlots of the town had hailed him "butcher!" from their roofs.
But as he groped against the wall, two hands upon him fell,
The King behind his shoulder spake:"Dead man, thou dost not well!
'Tis ill to jest with Kings by day and seek a boon by night;
And that thou bearest in thy hand is all too sharp to write.
But three days hence, if God be good, and if thy strength remain,
Thou shalt demand one boon of me and bless me in thy pain.
For I am merciful to all, and most of all to thee.
My butcher of the shambles, rest -- no knife hast thou for me!"
Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief,
holds hard by the South and the North;
But the Ghilzai knows, ere the melting snows,
when the swollen banks break forth,
When the red-coats crawl to the sungar wall,
and his Usbeg lances fail:
Ye have heard the song -- How long?How long?
Wolves of the Zuka Kheyl!
They stoned him in the rubbish-field when dawn was in the sky,
According to the written word, "See that he do not die."
They stoned him till the stones were piled above him on the plain,
And those the labouring limbs displaced they tumbled back again.
One watched beside the dreary mound that veiled the battered thing,
And him the King with laughter called the Herald of the King.
It was upon the second night, the night of Ramazan,
The watcher leaning earthward heard the message of Yar Khan.
From shattered breast through shrivelled lips broke forth the rattling breath,
"Creature of God, deliver me from agony of Death."
They sought the King among his girls, and risked their lives thereby:
"Protector of the Pitiful, give orders that he die!"
"Bid him endure until the day," a lagging answer came;
"The night is short, and he can pray and learn to bless my name."
Before the dawn three times he spoke, and on the day once more:
"Creature of God, deliver me, and bless the King therefor!"
They shot him at the morning prayer, to ease him of his pain,
And when he heard the matchlocks clink, he blessed the King again.
Which thing the singers made a song for all the world to sing,
So that the Outer Seas may know the mercy of the King.
Abdhur Rahman, the Durani Chief, of him is the story told,
He has opened his mouth to the North and the South,
they have stuffed his mouth with gold.
Ye know the truth of his tender ruth -- and sweet his favours are:
Ye have heard the song -- How long?How long?
from Balkh to Kandahar.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Ballad Of The King's Mercy by Rudyard Kipling: A Haunting Tale of Power and Redemption
Rudyard Kipling is mostly known for his tales of colonial India, but he was also a prolific poet, and one of his most haunting and powerful ballads is "The Ballad Of The King's Mercy". This poem tells the story of a king who, after years of tyranny and cruelty, is visited by a ghostly messenger and given a chance to redeem himself.
The poem is structured as a ballad, with a simple ABAB rhyme scheme and a steady rhythm that resembles a galloping horse. This rhythm is appropriate, since the poem is full of images of horses and hunting, which were central to the culture of medieval kingship. The poem is also full of archaic words and expressions, which give it a sense of timelessness and mystery.
The poem starts with a description of the king's power and wealth:
Oh, it fell upon a summer's day, When the king and the queen were gone away, That the king's broad lands were seized in pay For a war he had never seen.
This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem: there is a sense of unease and foreboding, as if something terrible is about to happen. The fact that the king's lands are being seized for a war he has never seen also suggests that he is not in control of his own kingdom, that his power is based on violence and exploitation rather than on a genuine connection with his people.
The second stanza introduces the ghostly messenger who will be the catalyst for the king's redemption:
And they brought the news to the castle gate, And they told it into the king's own ear, That the foe was marching with a power great, And his people's hearts were filled with fear.
The fact that the messenger is not a human being but a supernatural entity reinforces the idea that the king's fate is not in his own hands, that he is subject to forces beyond his control. The messenger's warning also suggests that the king's reign has not brought peace and prosperity to his kingdom, but rather fear and insecurity.
The next stanza describes the king's reaction to the news:
Then up and spake the king in pride, "Shall I lose my lands," said he, "When there's many a valiant knight beside Will die for me and my chivalry?"
The king's response is typical of tyrants: he is not concerned with the welfare of his people, but only with his own power and glory. He believes that his knights will fight for him because they are bound by loyalty and honor, but he does not consider that they might also be fighting for their own survival, or for a better future for their families.
The next stanza introduces the ghostly horse that will carry the king to his redemption:
But the ghostly messenger shook his head, And he laughed a bitter laugh and said, "Thou fool, to thyself thou art true instead, And thy chivalry is but pride."
The messenger's words are a scathing critique of the king's arrogance and selfishness. He exposes the hollowness of the king's rhetoric, and suggests that his knights might not be as loyal as he thinks. The fact that the messenger laughs a bitter laugh also suggests that he has seen this kind of behavior before, and that the king's fate is not unique.
The next stanza describes the appearance of the ghostly horse:
And he bade them bring his steed from stall, Black as a coal and slim and tall, And they saddled him and he mounted all, The king of the chivalry.
The description of the horse as black as a coal and slim and tall reinforces the supernatural aspect of the poem, and also suggests that the horse is not a mere animal but a symbolic figure. The fact that the king is the "king of the chivalry" also suggests that he is not a mere mortal, but a representative of a larger social order.
The next stanza describes the ride of the ghostly horse:
And away they rode, with spur and rein, They rode as never they rode again, And the wind went with them like a chain To bind them to their destiny.
The description of the ride is full of energy and urgency. The fact that they ride "as never they rode again" suggests that this is not a typical royal procession, but a moment of crisis and transformation. The fact that the wind goes with them like a chain also suggests that they are not in control of their own fate, but subject to a higher power.
The next stanza describes the encounter between the king and the ghostly maiden:
And they rode till they came to a castle great, With towers and battlements high and straight, And there at the gate in royal state A maiden fair they did see.
The description of the castle with towers and battlements reinforces the medieval aspect of the poem, and suggests that the king is entering a different world, a world of magic and mystery. The fact that the maiden is described as fair also suggests that she is not a mere mortal, but a supernatural figure.
The next stanza describes the king's conversation with the ghostly maiden:
And she said, "O king, thy hour is nigh When thou and thy chivalry must die, And thy lands shall be a desert lie, And thy name a memory."
The maiden's words are a stark reminder of the king's mortality and the impermanence of his power. She suggests that his reign has not brought lasting achievements or benefits, but rather destruction and oblivion.
The next stanza describes the king's response to the maiden's prophecy:
But the king drew forth his sword so bright, And he bade her back, and he bade her fight, And he said, "I'll die for my chivalry's right, And my lands shall be my glory."
The king's response is typical of his character: he is not willing to listen to criticism or to accept his own flaws, but rather doubles down on his pride and arrogance. He believes that his sword and his chivalry will protect him from the consequences of his actions, and that his lands and his glory are worth dying for.
The next stanza describes the king's defeat at the hands of the ghostly maiden:
But the maiden smiled with a strange sad grace, And she lifted her veil and showed her face, And the king fell dead at her feet in place, And his heart was a broken thing.
The description of the maiden's smile with a strange sad grace suggests that she is not a mere agent of vengeance, but also a figure of compassion and mercy. The fact that she lifts her veil and shows her face also suggests that she is revealing a deeper truth, a truth that the king has been unable or unwilling to see. The fact that the king falls dead at her feet and his heart is a broken thing suggests that his defeat is not just physical, but also spiritual and emotional.
The final stanza describes the ghostly maiden's final words:
And she said, "The mercy thou hast not shown, To the humblest creature under the sun, The mercy thou hast claimed as thine own, Is granted thee, king, for what thou hast done."
The maiden's final words are a stunning reversal of fortune. She suggests that the mercy that the king has denied to others is now granted to him, not because he deserves it but because he has finally understood the suffering that he has caused. The fact that the mercy is granted for what he has done also suggests that redemption is not a matter of words or intentions, but of actions and consequences.
In conclusion, "The Ballad Of The King's Mercy" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of power, cruelty, and redemption. Kipling's use of archaic language and medieval imagery gives the poem a timeless quality that resonates with readers from different cultures and times. The poem is also a cautionary tale that reminds us of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of humility and compassion.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Ballad of the King's Mercy: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Prize-winning author, is known for his exceptional storytelling skills and his ability to capture the essence of human emotions in his works. One of his most celebrated poems, The Ballad of the King's Mercy, is a masterpiece that showcases his poetic genius. This ballad is a gripping tale of a king's dilemma and his eventual decision to show mercy to a prisoner. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of this poem and explore its themes, literary devices, and historical context.
The Ballad of the King's Mercy is a narrative poem that tells the story of a king who is faced with a difficult decision. The king has captured a rebel leader who has been waging war against him. The rebel leader is brought before the king, and he begs for mercy. The king is torn between his duty to punish the rebel leader for his crimes and his compassion for a fellow human being. The poem explores the king's internal conflict and his eventual decision to show mercy.
The poem is written in ballad form, which is a type of poetry that tells a story in a simple and direct manner. The ballad form is characterized by its use of quatrains, or four-line stanzas, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB. The Ballad of the King's Mercy follows this structure, with each stanza telling a part of the story. The poem is also written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line has four iambs, or metrical feet, with the stress on the second syllable. This gives the poem a rhythmic quality that adds to its storytelling power.
One of the themes that The Ballad of the King's Mercy explores is the conflict between justice and mercy. The king is faced with a difficult decision: should he punish the rebel leader for his crimes or show him mercy? The poem highlights the tension between these two values and the difficulty of reconciling them. The king's decision to show mercy is not an easy one, and it is clear that he struggles with it. The poem shows that sometimes, justice and mercy are not mutually exclusive, and that it is possible to show compassion while still upholding the law.
Another theme that the poem explores is the power of forgiveness. The rebel leader begs for mercy, and the king eventually grants it. This act of forgiveness has a profound impact on the rebel leader, who is moved to tears by the king's kindness. The poem shows that forgiveness can be a transformative act, and that it has the power to heal wounds and bring people together.
The Ballad of the King's Mercy is also notable for its use of literary devices. One of the most striking devices used in the poem is repetition. The refrain, "And it's oh for the grace of God, King of England, and it's oh for the mercy of God," is repeated throughout the poem. This repetition emphasizes the central conflict of the poem and underscores the importance of mercy and grace. The use of repetition also gives the poem a musical quality, which adds to its emotional impact.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. Kipling uses vivid descriptions to bring the story to life. For example, he describes the rebel leader as "gaunt and hollow-eyed," which creates a powerful image of a man who has suffered greatly. Kipling also uses imagery to describe the king's dilemma, saying that he is "torn between his heart and his crown." This image highlights the difficulty of the king's decision and emphasizes the weight of his responsibility.
The historical context of The Ballad of the King's Mercy is also worth exploring. The poem was written in 1899, during the Boer War, which was a conflict between the British Empire and the Boer states in South Africa. The war was marked by atrocities committed by both sides, and it was a time of great turmoil and suffering. The poem can be seen as a commentary on the brutality of war and the need for compassion and forgiveness in times of conflict.
In conclusion, The Ballad of the King's Mercy is a masterpiece of poetry that explores themes of justice, mercy, and forgiveness. Kipling's use of the ballad form, repetition, and imagery creates a powerful and emotional story that resonates with readers to this day. The poem is a testament to Kipling's skill as a storyteller and his ability to capture the complexities of the human experience. It is a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers over a century after it was written.
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