King Ahmak Shah-C. H. Payne

KING AHMAK SHAH

An Arab merchant came to the court

Of Ahmak Shah one day.

'Whence art thou, friend,' the king inquired;

'And what is thy business, pray?'


The Arab merchant bowed him down

Till his forehead touched the floor;

And thus he addressed King Ahmak Shah:

'Protector of the poor!

'For a lakh of rupees-one paltry lakh-

Thy slave will bring to thee

The finest horse that ever roamed

The deserts of Araby.'


'Give him the money!' cried Ahmak Shah.

'If there is one thing that I need

More than anything else in all the world,

'Tis a pure-bred Arab steed.'


That night the king was in merry mood;

And having nothing to do,

He bade his Minister write him a list

Of the greatest fools he knew.


The Minister write; and handing the names

To the king, 'I have placed them,' he said,

'In order of merit, so to speak,

Your Majesty's name at the head.'


'By the beard of the Prophet!' said Ahmak Shah,

'Thou art a bold Vizier!

May I inquire to what I owe

This eminence - as it were?'


'To trust that thief of an Arab with

A lakh of rupees was the act

Of a very great fool,' the Minister said,

'And there's no getting over the fact.'


'If he brings me the horse, what then?' asked the king.

'Why, then,' the Minister said,

'I shall take your Majesty's name from the list,

And place his there instead.'


C. H. PAYNE


Summary: 'King Ahmak Shah' by C. H. Payne is a humorous and satirical poem that tells the story of a gullible king named Ahmak Shah. It begins with an Arab merchant visiting the king's court, offering to sell a fine Arabian horse for a mere one lakh rupees. King Ahmak Shah, who desires a purebred Arab steed more than anything else, eagerly agrees to the deal.

However, his Minister finds the king's decision foolish and compiles a list of the greatest fools he knows, with the king's name at the top. When the king questions why his name is at the head of the list, the Minister explains that entrusting a known thief of an Arab merchant with a lakh of rupees was a fool's act. The Minister humorously suggests that if the Arab merchant indeed brings the horse as promised, he will remove the king's name from the list and replace it with the Arab merchant's.

The poem uses humour and irony to illustrate the king's gullibility and how he is easily swayed by the prospect of acquiring a valuable horse. It highlights the foolishness of his actions and how his Minister cleverly points out the king's mistake in a lighthearted manner.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Jumblies-Edward Lear

Image
Summary: Edward Lear's 'The Jumblies' tells the whimsical and adventurous story of a group of daring characters called the Jumblies, who embark on an unusual journey to sea in a sieve, a vessel entirely unsuited for sailing. Despite warnings and ridicule from their friends, who predict their inevitable doom, the Jumblies remain undeterred. Their spirit of adventure and carefree attitude is reflected in their confident disregard for the dangers. The poem emphasizes their uniqueness, describing them as beings with green heads and blue hands, living in distant lands that are rare and far away. The Jumblies' boldness and cheerfulness in pursuing an impossible dream, despite the odds, highlight themes of courage, individuality, and the joy of embracing the extraordinary. Exercises A. Questions 1. Where were they going in a sieve? Answer: They were going to sea in a sieve. 2. What would happen to a sieve if you put it on water? Answer: A sieve, being full of holes, would not...
Read more

Old-Time Christmas Customs I-Robert Herrick

OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS I Come bring with a noise. My merry, merry boys, The Christmas log to the firing. While my good dame she Bids ye all be free And eat to your hearts' desiring. ROBERT HERRICK Summary: 'Old-Time Christmas Customs I' is a poem by Robert Herrick that celebrates traditional Christmas customs and festivities. In the poem, Herrick invites his 'merry, merry boys' to join in the holiday spirit by bringing a large Christmas log to the fire. He describes the scene as his 'good dame' encourages everyone to be free and enjoy a hearty feast to their hearts' content. The poem captures the joy and warmth of a traditional Christmas celebration, where family and friends gather around the hearth to share in the merriment of the season. It evokes a sense of nostalgia for the customs and traditions of Christmases past, emphasizing the importance of coming together and celebrating with loved ones. 
Read more

August Weather-Katharine Tynan

Image
AUGUST WEATHER Dead heat and windless air, And silence over all; Never a lead astir, But the ripe apples fall; Plums are purple-red, Pears amber and brown; Thud! in the garden-bed! Ripe apples fall down. Air like a cider-press With the bruised apples' scent; Low whistles express Some sleepy bird's content; Still world and windless sky, A mist of heat o'er all; Peace like a lullaby, And the ripe apples fall. KATHARINE TYNAN Summary: 'August Weather' by Katharine Tynan is a poem that depicts the changing of the season and the beauty of August. The poem begins by describing how the hot summer days of August have given way to cooler nights and mornings, and how the leaves on the trees have started to turn yellow and brown. The speaker marvels at the beauty of nature and the changing landscape, describing the clear blue sky and the fields of golden wheat. The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the passing of time, acknowledging that summer must eventually come to a...
Read more