|
Classic and Contemporary Poetry
TARQUIN AND THE AUGUR, by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN Poem Explanation Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: Gingerly is good king tarquin shaving Last Line: Rodgers' name engraved upon the blade. Alternate Author Name(s): Bon Gaultier (with Theodore Martin) Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Shaving; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens | |||
GINGERLY is good King Tarquin shaving, Gently glides the razor o'er his chin, Near him stands a grim Haruspex raving, And with nasal whine he pitches in Church extension hints, Till the monarch squints, Snicks his chin, and swears -- a deadly sin! 'Jove confound thee, thou bare-legged impostor! From my dressing-table get thee gone! Dost thou think my flesh is double Glo'ster? There again! That cut was to the bone! Get ye from my sight; I'll believe you're right, When my razor cuts the sharping hone!' Thus spoke Tarquin with a deal of dryness; But the Augur, eager for his fees, Answered -- 'Try it, your Imperial Highness, Press a little harder, if you please. There! the deed is done!' Through the solid stone Went the steel as glibly as through cheese. So the Augur touch'd the tin of Tarquin, Who suspected some celestial aid: But he wronged the blameless Gods; for hearken! Ere the monarch's bet was rashly laid, With his searching eye Did the priest espy RODGERS' name engraved upon the blade. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH FOR THE INVESTITURE by CECIL DAY LEWIS ELEGY ASKING THAT IT BE THE LAST; FOR INGRID ERHARDT, 1951-1971 by NORMAN DUBIE L,ENVOI: IN OUR TIME by ERNEST HEMINGWAY VASHTI by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON LINES ON CARMEN SYLVA by EMMA LAZARUS TO CARMEN SYLVA (QUEEN OF ROUMANIA) by EMMA LAZARUS BOTHWELL: PART 4 by WILLIAM EDMONSTOUNE AYTOUN |
|