The Dole of the King’s Daughter by Oscar Wilde
“The Dole of the King’s Daughter” is a compelling and richly symbolic poem by dramatist, essayist, poet and novelist Oscar Wilde, This work masterfully intertwines themes of sin, love, and retribution through its vivid and evocative imagery. “The Dole of the King’s Daughter” is featured in his poetry volume Poems. For those interested in exploring more of Wilde’s poetic endeavors, Poems is available online at PageVio.
1. The Poem
Seven stars in the still water,
And seven in the sky;
Seven sins on the King’s daughter,
Deep in her soul to lie.
Red roses are at her feet,
(Roses are red in her red-gold hair)
And O where her bosom and girdle meet
Red roses are hidden there.
Fair is the knight who lieth slain
Amid the rush and reed,
See the lean fishes that are fain
Upon dead men to feed.
Sweet is the page that lieth there,
(Cloth of gold is goodly prey,)
See the black ravens in the air,
Black, O black as the night are they.
What do they there so stark and dead?
(There is blood upon her hand)
Why are the lilies flecked with red?
(There is blood on the river sand.)
There are two that ride from the south and east,
And two from the north and west,
For the black raven a goodly feast,
For the King’s daughter rest.
There is one man who loves her true,
(Red, O red, is the stain of gore!)
He hath duggen a grave by the darksome yew,
(One grave will do for four.)
No moon in the still heaven,
In the black water none,
The sins on her soul are seven,
The sin upon his is one.
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2. The Dole of the King’s Daughter Analysis
This poem presents a narrative rich in symbolism and imagery, unfolding through its stanzas. Let’s analyze it stanza by stanza:
Seven stars in the still water, And seven in the sky; Seven sins on the King’s daughter, Deep in her soul to lie.
This stanza introduces a motif of duality and reflection, with seven stars in both the sky and the water. The “seven sins on the King’s daughter” suggests a deep, inherent moral failing or burden within the princess, with the number seven often symbolizing completeness or perfection in literature, implying the totality of her sins.
Red roses are at her feet, (Roses are red in her red-gold hair) And O where her bosom and girdle meet Red roses are hidden there.
Here, the imagery of red roses, both at her feet and in her hair, symbolizes passion, love, or possibly bloodshed. The hidden roses where her bosom and girdle meet could imply a secret or a hidden aspect of her femininity or sexuality.
Fair is the knight who lieth slain Amid the rush and reed, See the lean fishes that are fain Upon dead men to feed.
This stanza shifts focus to a slain knight, suggesting a violent or tragic event. The fishes feeding on the dead introduces a grim, macabre element, possibly alluding to the consequences of the princess’s sins or actions.
Sweet is the page that lieth there, (Cloth of gold is goodly prey,) See the black ravens in the air, Black, O black as the night are they.
A young page, possibly a servant or a young knight, is also dead. The reference to “cloth of gold” could signify wealth or greed, while the black ravens symbolize death and are ominously described, adding to the dark, foreboding atmosphere.
What do they there so stark and dead? (There is blood upon her hand) Why are the lilies flecked with red? (There is blood on the river sand.)
This stanza directly implicates the princess in the violence, with blood on her hands and the surrounding lilies, traditionally symbols of purity, now stained with blood, indicating a loss of innocence or purity.
There are two that ride from the south and east, And two from the north and west, For the black raven a goodly feast, For the King’s daughter rest.
Riders from all directions suggest a converging of forces or consequences towards the princess. The ravens’ feast and the mention of rest for the princess could imply impending death or judgment.
There is one man who loves her true, (Red, O red, is the stain of gore!) He hath duggen a grave by the darksome yew, (One grave will do for four.)
A man, possibly in love with the princess, has prepared a grave, indicating a tragic end. The reference to one grave for four people suggests a collective fate or consequence for the events that have transpired.
No moon in the still heaven, In the black water none, The sins on her soul are seven, The sin upon his is one.
The final stanza returns to the imagery of reflection and duality but with an ominous absence of light (no moon), reflecting the darkness of the events. The contrasting sins of the princess and the man (seven vs. one) suggest different degrees or natures of guilt or responsibility.
In summary, the poem weaves a narrative of sin, consequence, and tragedy, using vivid imagery and symbolic elements to convey its themes.
3. Conclusion
If you enjoyed “The Dole of the King’s Daughter,” you might find it interesting to explore a collection of poems by Oscar Wilde.
