24
IN OLD SIAM.
What is Kandy's Tooth, or Footprint,
To a living, present lord?—
Tell the rulers! rouse the soldiers!
Bid your fairest scribe record
I have seen him on the sward,
The White Elephant, a Buddha!"
To a living, present lord?—
Tell the rulers! rouse the soldiers!
Bid your fairest scribe record
I have seen him on the sward,
The White Elephant, a Buddha!"
How we bore him to the palace
Down Meinam's rejoicing tide!—
I a noble now and honored,
Standing proud my King beside.
Trumpets blew and cannon thundered;
Chimed the sweet pagoda bells;
On his forehead holy water
Princes poured from jewelled shells;
Every temple heaped its altars;
Every town was wild with glee;
So with song and shout and splendor
To the palace home came he,
To his shrine that fronts the sea,—
The White Elephant, a Buddha!
Down Meinam's rejoicing tide!—
I a noble now and honored,
Standing proud my King beside.
Trumpets blew and cannon thundered;
Chimed the sweet pagoda bells;
On his forehead holy water
Princes poured from jewelled shells;
Every temple heaped its altars;
Every town was wild with glee;
So with song and shout and splendor
To the palace home came he,
To his shrine that fronts the sea,—
The White Elephant, a Buddha!
