172
A ROYAL PRINCESS.
So two whispered by my door, not thinking I could hear,
Vulgar naked truth, ungarnished for a royal ear;
Fit for cooping in the background, not to stalk so near.
Vulgar naked truth, ungarnished for a royal ear;
Fit for cooping in the background, not to stalk so near.
But I strained my utmost sense to catch this truth, and mark:
"There are families out grazing, like cattle in the park."
"A pair of peasants must be saved, even if we build an ark."
"There are families out grazing, like cattle in the park."
"A pair of peasants must be saved, even if we build an ark."
A merry jest, a merry laugh, each strolled upon his way;
One was my page, a lad I reared and bore with day by day;
One was my youngest maid, as sweet and white as cream in May.
One was my page, a lad I reared and bore with day by day;
One was my youngest maid, as sweet and white as cream in May.
Other footsteps followed softly with a weightier tramp;
Voices said: "Picked soldiers have been summoned from the camp,
To quell these base-born ruffians who make free to howl and stamp."
Voices said: "Picked soldiers have been summoned from the camp,
To quell these base-born ruffians who make free to howl and stamp."
"Howl and stamp?" one answered: "They made free to hurl a stone
At the minister's state coach, well aimed and stoutly thrown."
"There's work then for the soldiers, for this rank crop must be mown."
At the minister's state coach, well aimed and stoutly thrown."
"There's work then for the soldiers, for this rank crop must be mown."
