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Poem
April 15, 1885
East Providence Eagle
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
A dark poem depicting criminals hanged in clusters from forest trees under King Louis XI, portrayed as the king's grim orchard, evoking terror and moral reflection on tyranny.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
The Song of The Gibbet.
[As recited by Mr. Lawrence Barrett in his new play "The King's Pleasure." Louis XI. was accustomed to hang criminals in groups in the forest.]
There's a forest, whose branches stretching forth like withered arms
Clusters hang, of fruit, that blanches
In the sun—but never warms.
Beneath the leaves are ravens tenting
Kites are hovering on the wing
Round about—the harvest scenting
In the orchard of the King.
Ye who love or pity cherish,
Come not near these laden boughs
Here must hearts in terror perish,
Or to rebel thoughts arouse.
What's this sound the wind is bringing
Do the fowl birds dare to sing?
Tis the creak of corpses swinging
In the orchard of the King.
ENVOI.
Prince! within that orchard bleaching,
Thick as beads upon a string,
Clusters hang, to conscience preaching,
In the orchard of the King.
Alfred Thompson
[As recited by Mr. Lawrence Barrett in his new play "The King's Pleasure." Louis XI. was accustomed to hang criminals in groups in the forest.]
There's a forest, whose branches stretching forth like withered arms
Clusters hang, of fruit, that blanches
In the sun—but never warms.
Beneath the leaves are ravens tenting
Kites are hovering on the wing
Round about—the harvest scenting
In the orchard of the King.
Ye who love or pity cherish,
Come not near these laden boughs
Here must hearts in terror perish,
Or to rebel thoughts arouse.
What's this sound the wind is bringing
Do the fowl birds dare to sing?
Tis the creak of corpses swinging
In the orchard of the King.
ENVOI.
Prince! within that orchard bleaching,
Thick as beads upon a string,
Clusters hang, to conscience preaching,
In the orchard of the King.
Alfred Thompson
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
Ballad
What themes does it cover?
Death Mourning
Political
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Gibbet Song
Louis Xi
Hanging Criminals
Forest Orchard
King Tyranny
Corpses Swinging
Conscience Preaching
What entities or persons were involved?
Alfred Thompson
Poem Details
Title
The Song Of The Gibbet.
Author
Alfred Thompson
Subject
Gibbets In Louis Xi's Forest
Key Lines
Clusters Hang, Of Fruit, That Blanches
In The Sun—But Never Warms.
Tis The Creak Of Corpses Swinging
In The Orchard Of The King.
Prince! Within That Orchard Bleaching,
Thick As Beads Upon A String,
Clusters Hang, To Conscience Preaching,
In The Orchard Of The King.