Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/158

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L'ANCIEN RÉGIME;

OR,

THE GOOD OLD RULE.

1867.

Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king,
Our king all kings above?
A young girl brought him love;
And he dowered her with shame,
With a sort of infamous fame,
And then with lonely years
Of penance and bitter tears:
Love is scarcely the thing
To bring as a gift for our king.

Who has a thing to bring
For a gift to our lord the king?
A statesman brought him planned
Justice for all the land;
And he in recompense got
Fierce struggle with brigue and plot,