Poems (Trask)/The King and I
THE KING AND I.
The King rules over the country; But never a whit care I,My little meagre dominion Is all in my hopeful eye. He has a million of troubles; I am at peace with man, I have put ill-tempered ambition Under eternal ban: Why should I envy royalty? Answer me, if you can!
The Queen smiles on her courtiers, The duke's lips press her hand; My little wife would scorn kisses From the noblest in the land! Given to me her heart is, Sacred to me her lips,—Never dares an admirer Press e'en her finger-tips; And her gentle, wifely beauty Puts the Queen in eclipse.
The King is a jovial liver, Drinks of the rubiest wine, Is clothed in the royal ermine And linen matchlessly fine; Has pages to guess his wishes, Minions to come at his nod,
And amid his palace royalties Rules like a demigod! Which will lie highest and softest, He, or I, under the sod?
Give me my lowly cottage, My wife and my brown-eyed girl! One is my royal diamond, The other my priceless pearl! Go, King! ride, drink, and conquer, Joy in your birth and your pride; I wouldn't lift up a finger To sit on the throne by your side! For God and a true love have blessed me; What can I ask for beside?