To W. A. - Or Ever The Knightly Years Were Gone

Author: William Ernest Henley

    Or ever the knightly years were gone
    With the old world to the grave,
    I was a King in Babylon
    And you were a Christian Slave.

    I saw, I took, I cast you by,
    I bent and broke your pride.
    You loved me well, or I heard them lie,
    But your longing was denied.
    Surely I knew that by and by
    You cursed your gods and died.

    And a myriad suns have set and shone
    Since then upon the grave
    Decreed by the King in Babylon
    To her that had been his Slave.

    The pride I trampled is now my scathe,
    For it tramples me again.
    The old resentment lasts like death,
    For you love, yet you refrain.
    I break my heart on your hard unfaith,
    And I break my heart in vain.

    Yet not for an hour do I wish undone
    The deed beyond the grave,
    When I was a King in Babylon
    And you were a Virgin Slave.
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Type of Poem: Ballad

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is an exploration of power dynamics, love, and regret, set against a backdrop of temporal vastness. It employs the theme of reincarnation to reflect on the cyclical nature of human relationships and the relentless march of time. The speaker, who identifies himself as a former King in Babylon, recounts his past tyranny over the "Christian Slave", presumably a woman he loved yet mistreated. The regret he feels in the present for his past actions underscores a poignant theme of remorse and the inescapability of past actions.

The poem effectively utilizes contrast and irony to convey its themes. The roles of the King and the Slave are reversed in the present, as the King is now 'trampled' by the pride he once crushed, symbolizing poetic justice. The tone of the poem oscillates between remorse and resilience, reflecting the complexity of the speaker's emotions. The structure of the poem, with its consistent rhyming scheme, provides a rhythmic continuity that mirrors the continuous cyclic nature of time and reincarnation. The poem's imagery, particularly in its references to a 'myriad suns' and 'the grave', serve to further highlight the vastness of time and the inevitability of death. The final lines of the poem convey a sense of tragic acceptance, as the speaker acknowledges his actions without wishing to undo them, suggesting a recognition of the consequences of his actions and the painful lessons learned.

Understanding Ballads

A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music, that has been a cornerstone of storytelling across various cultures. Traditionally passed down orally, ballads are known for their rhythmic structure and often tell tales of love, adventure, and heroism.

Ballads are characterized by their strong rhythm and repetition, making them both memorable and engaging. Here are some defining features:

  • Narrative Structure: Ballads typically tell a story, often a dramatic or emotional tale that unfolds in a straightforward, chronological order.
  • Quatrain Stanzas: Most ballads are composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) with a rhyme scheme of ABAB or ABCB, which adds to the musicality of the verse.
  • Repetition: Refrains or repeated lines are common in ballads, helping to emphasize key themes or emotions and making the ballad easier to remember.
  • Oral Tradition: Many ballads originated from oral traditions, which means they were passed down through generations by word of mouth before being written down.

From medieval minstrels to contemporary songwriters, ballads have continued to evolve, remaining a beloved form of expression that captures the human experience in a way that is both poetic and accessible.