Poems (Jackson)/The Royal Beggar
MARVEL strange! outside the palace doors,And begging humbly from the palace stores,He stands and waits; and when a paltry crustIs flung, he stoops and picks it from the dust,And, smiling through his tears, clasps to his breastThe niggard boon; and, for the moment blestAnd fed, is grateful, though the ruby wineAnd milk and honey which, by right divine,Are his, his only, and the crown of goldGod wrought for him, are to his rightful holdRefused!Refused!Ah Love, dear Love, nowhere on earthWanders uncrowned thy peer of royal birth!Ah Love, great Love! Denied, thrust out in vain,Kingly, though beggared! Blest through all the pain!
THE ROYAL BEGGAR.
MARVEL strange! outside the palace doors,And begging humbly from the palace stores,He stands and waits; and when a paltry crustIs flung, he stoops and picks it from the dust,And, smiling through his tears, clasps to his breastThe niggard boon; and, for the moment blestAnd fed, is grateful, though the ruby wineAnd milk and honey which, by right divine,Are his, his only, and the crown of goldGod wrought for him, are to his rightful holdRefused!Refused!Ah Love, dear Love, nowhere on earthWanders uncrowned thy peer of royal birth!Ah Love, great Love! Denied, thrust out in vain,Kingly, though beggared! Blest through all the pain!