The Gloves & the Lions
~ Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)
Rhyme Scheme- AABB
Stanza Analysis-
1st Stanza
Once there was a king named Francis who was good-hearted. He loved the royal sport of lions
fighting. One day as he sat in the arena to watch the fight, he was accompanied by othernobles
& courtiers One of them was the Count of Lorge with his beloved who the king became
infatuated with (for whom he sighed) (he was envious of count) . It was a perfect show of
bravery (Valour) and love, with the king seated on his throne above looking down at the royal
lions fighting on the ground below
2nd Stanza
The lions walked in the arena and they roared, which showed their horrible jaws. They bit each
other, stared and hit the other with their powerful blows like beams. Their “blows” are strong like
“beams” and the wind seems to move alongside their paws. They rolled about in mud
(wallowed), made suppressed roars as one rolled onto the other. Their hair got full of the mud
and the blood oozed out of their body into the air spread far & wide. When the king saw such a
terrible fight, he amusingly stated that he, and those around him, are better off ‘here’, where
they were sitting, than ‘there’ in the pit with the lions, away from danger.
3rd Stanza
Count De Lorge’s beloved overheard the king. She was a beautiful, lively young woman. Her
smile and her sharp bright eyes always remained the same. She sees the king and is perhaps
struck by his grandeur and strength. She suddenly feels as if she must test her own lover, De
Lorge.
According to her, her love- the Count was the most brave man, and would do wonderful things
to prove his love for her. She called out to the entire audience (King, ladies, lovers) and said to
watch this divine occasion, where she would throw her glove in the arena and her brave lover
would get it back to prove his love for her despite the presence of the ferocious lions.
However, her real intention was to grab attention and gain glory on the occasion.
~ Leigh Hunt (1784-1859)
Rhyme Scheme- AABB
Stanza Analysis-
1st Stanza
Once there was a king named Francis who was good-hearted. He loved the royal sport of lions
fighting. One day as he sat in the arena to watch the fight, he was accompanied by othernobles
& courtiers One of them was the Count of Lorge with his beloved who the king became
infatuated with (for whom he sighed) (he was envious of count) . It was a perfect show of
bravery (Valour) and love, with the king seated on his throne above looking down at the royal
lions fighting on the ground below
2nd Stanza
The lions walked in the arena and they roared, which showed their horrible jaws. They bit each
other, stared and hit the other with their powerful blows like beams. Their “blows” are strong like
“beams” and the wind seems to move alongside their paws. They rolled about in mud
(wallowed), made suppressed roars as one rolled onto the other. Their hair got full of the mud
and the blood oozed out of their body into the air spread far & wide. When the king saw such a
terrible fight, he amusingly stated that he, and those around him, are better off ‘here’, where
they were sitting, than ‘there’ in the pit with the lions, away from danger.
3rd Stanza
Count De Lorge’s beloved overheard the king. She was a beautiful, lively young woman. Her
smile and her sharp bright eyes always remained the same. She sees the king and is perhaps
struck by his grandeur and strength. She suddenly feels as if she must test her own lover, De
Lorge.
According to her, her love- the Count was the most brave man, and would do wonderful things
to prove his love for her. She called out to the entire audience (King, ladies, lovers) and said to
watch this divine occasion, where she would throw her glove in the arena and her brave lover
would get it back to prove his love for her despite the presence of the ferocious lions.
However, her real intention was to grab attention and gain glory on the occasion.
