Classic and Contemporary Poetry
RAMPSINITUS AND THE ROBBERS; AN EGYPTIAN TALE, by JOHN GODFREY SAXE Poet's Biography First Line: In charming old herodotus Last Line: Thus flourish and increase! Subject(s): Egypt | ||||||||
IN charming old Herodotus, If you were college-bred, The Tale of Rampsinitus You may, perchance, have read; If not, 't is little matter, -- You may read it here instead. This Rampsinitus was a king Who lived in days of old, And, finding that his treasury Was quite too small to hold His jewels and his money-bags Of silver and of gold, He built a secret chamber, With this intent alone (That is, he got an architect And caused it to be done), A most substantial structure Of mortar and of stone. A very solid building It appeared to every eye, Except the master-mason's, Who plainly could espy One stone that fitted loosely When the masonry was dry. A dozen years had vanished, When, in the common way, The architect was summoned His final debt to pay; And thus unto his children The dying man did say: -- "Come hither now, my darling sons, Come, list my children twain, I have a little secret I am going to explain; 'T is a comfort, now I'm dying, That I have n't lived in vain." And then he plainly told them Of the trick that he had done; How in the royal chamber He had put a sliding stone, -- "You'll find it near the bottom, On the side that's next the sun. "Now I feel that I am going; Swift ebbs the vital tide; No longer in this wicked world My spirit may abide." And so this worthy gentleman Turned up his toes and died. It was n't long before the sons Improved the father's hint, And searched the secret chamber To discover what was in 't; And found, by self-promotion, They were "Masters of the Mint!" At length King Rampsinitus Perceived, as well he might, His caskets and his money-bags Were getting rather light; "And yet," quoth he, "my bolts and bars Are all exactly right! "I wonder how the cunning dog Has managed to get in; However, it is clear enough, I'm losing lots of tin; I'll try the virtue of a trap Before the largest bin!" In came the thief that very night, And soon the other chap, Who waited at the opening, On hearing something snap, Went in and found his brother A-sitting in the trap. "You see me in a pretty fix!" The gallant fellow said; "'T is better, now, that one should die Than both of us be dead. Lest two should be detected, Cut off my foolish head!" "Indeed," replied the other, "Such a cut were hardly kind, And to obey your order, I am truly disinclined; But, as you're the elder brother, I suppose I ought to mind." So, with his iron hanger He severed, at a slap, The noddle of the victim, Which he carried through the gap, And left the bleeding body A-sitting in the trap. His Majesty's amazement Of course was very great, On entering the chamber That held his cash and plate, To find the robber's body Without a bit of pate! To solve the mighty mystery Was now his whole intent; And everywhere, to find the head, His officers were sent; But every man came back again No wiser than he went. At last he set a dozen men The mystery to trace; And bade them watch the body In a very public place, And note what signs of sorrow They might see in any face. The robber, guessing what it meant, Was naturally shy; And, though he mingled in the crowd, Took care to "mind his eye," For fear his brother's body-guard His sorrow should espy. "I'll cheat 'em yet!" the fellow said; And so that very night, He planned a cunning stratagem To get the soldiers "tight"; And steal away his brother's trunk Before the morning light. He got a dozen asses, And put upon their backs As many loads as donkeys Of wine in leather sacks; Then set the bags a-leaking From a dozen little cracks. Then going where the soldiers Were keeping watch and ward, The fellows saw the leaking wine With covetous regard, And straightway fell a-drinking, And drank extremely hard. The owner stormed and scolded With well-affected spunk, But still they kept a-drinking Till all of them were drunk; And so it was the robber Stole off his brother's trunk! Now when King Rampsinitus Had heard the latest news, 'T is said his royal Majesty Expressed his royal views In language such as gentlemen Are seldom known to use. Now when a year had vanished, He formed another plan To catch the chap who'd stolen The mutilated man; And summoning the Princess, His Majesty began: -- "My daughter, hold a masquerade, And offer -- as in fun -- Five kisses (in your chamber) To every mother's son Who'll tell the shrewdest mischief That he has ever done. "If you chance to find the robber By the trick that I have planned, Remember, on the instant, To seize him by the hand, Then await such further orders As your father may command." The Princess made the party, Without the least dissent. 'T was a general invitation, And everybody went, -- The robber with the others, Though he guessed the king's intent Now when the cunning robber Was questioned, like the rest, He said: "Your Royal Highness, I solemnly protest Of all my subtle rogueries, I scarce know which is best; "But I venture the opinion, 'T was a rather pretty job, When, having with my hanger Cut off my brother's nob, I managed from the soldiers His headless trunk to rob!" And now the frightened Princess Gave a very heavy groan, For, to her consternation, The cunning thief had flown, And left the hand she grappled Still lying in her own! (For he a hand had borrowed, 'T is needful to be said, From the body of a gentleman That recently was dead, And that he gave the Princess The moment that he fled!) Then good King Rampsinitus Incontinently swore That this paragon of robbers He would persecute no more For such a clever rascal Had never lived before! And in that goodly company, His Majesty declared That if the thief would show himself His person should be spared, And with his only daughter In marriage should be paired! And when King Rampsinitus Had run his mortal lease, He left them in his testament Just half a crown apiece; May every modest merit Thus flourish and increase! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...BLACK NIKES by HARRYETTE MULLEN IN PHARAOH'S TOMB by HAYDEN CARRUTH THE EVENING OF THE PYRAMIDS by NORMAN DUBIE THE SPHINX by RALPH WALDO EMERSON OZYMANDIAS by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY SARAH'S CHOICE by ELEANOR WILNER THE DARKNESS OF EGYPT by MARIA ABDY DEATH AND CUPID; AN ALLEGORY by JOHN GODFREY SAXE |
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