 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
CEDRIC.
Cedric, the King of Mercia, in those days
Ruled justly, yet his people loved him not—
Ruled wisely, yet obtained but grudging praise;
Therefore he wearied of his lofty lot
And kingrick splendid.
Ruled justly, yet his people loved him not—
Ruled wisely, yet obtained but grudging praise;
Therefore he wearied of his lofty lot
And kingrick splendid.
99
So he, filled with chagrin, and sick at heart,
And seeking for new life, went forth one day—
He cared not whither so he might depart—
And, mounted on his steed he took his way,
By none attended.
And seeking for new life, went forth one day—
He cared not whither so he might depart—
And, mounted on his steed he took his way,
By none attended.
And rode, and rode, until ere fall of night
He came to where the highway branched to four,
And there he found a pillar square and white,
That on each side a plain inscription bore,
The traveller guiding.
He came to where the highway branched to four,
And there he found a pillar square and white,
That on each side a plain inscription bore,
The traveller guiding.
The first: “Who travels here well-fed shall be,
But hunger waits the steed that he has brought;”
The next: “Who may this road pursue shall see
His horse well filed, but he himself get naught
For coin or chiding;”
But hunger waits the steed that he has brought;”
The next: “Who may this road pursue shall see
His horse well filed, but he himself get naught
For coin or chiding;”
The third: “Who takes this path shall fare the best,
Both man and horse, but be dismissed with blows;”
The last: “Who goes this way finds food and rest
For him and his; but, when next day he goes,
His horse he loses.”
Both man and horse, but be dismissed with blows;”
The last: “Who goes this way finds food and rest
For him and his; but, when next day he goes,
His horse he loses.”
“Ill,” said the king, “on either path is cast;
Hunger for horse in one, for man the next,
Blows in the third, and robbery in the last—
The wisest here may feel his mind perplexed
Before he chooses.
Hunger for horse in one, for man the next,
Blows in the third, and robbery in the last—
The wisest here may feel his mind perplexed
Before he chooses.
“I like not blows; I will not plundered be;
Let those two pass; while I can hunger bear,
The want of this dumb brute I may not see;
So, in the second road we take our way,
Whate'er betide us.
Let those two pass; while I can hunger bear,
The want of this dumb brute I may not see;
So, in the second road we take our way,
Whate'er betide us.
100
“These be strange folk that in my kingdom dwell,
And strange I never heard of them before;
Things far less singular the gossips tell—
But hurry, steed! the light of day gives o'er,
With none to guide us.”
And strange I never heard of them before;
Things far less singular the gossips tell—
But hurry, steed! the light of day gives o'er,
With none to guide us.”
And so, into the darkness on they rode,
The willing steed cheered by his master's tone,
Until they came to where a mean abode
Stood by the wayside, low-roofed and alone,
Smokeless and cheerless.
The willing steed cheered by his master's tone,
Until they came to where a mean abode
Stood by the wayside, low-roofed and alone,
Smokeless and cheerless.
Here, from the horse alighting, rapped the king,
Whereat the door was opened, and a wight,
Crooked and dwarfish, bade him, muttering,
While with his fingers shading there the light,
To enter fearless.
Whereat the door was opened, and a wight,
Crooked and dwarfish, bade him, muttering,
While with his fingers shading there the light,
To enter fearless.
The entertainer, scanty of his speech,
The bridle took, and led the charger in;
Inside there were two stalls with straw in each,
And in one corner stood a well-filled bin,
Of metal planished.
The bridle took, and led the charger in;
Inside there were two stalls with straw in each,
And in one corner stood a well-filled bin,
Of metal planished.
The dwarf in one stall showed the king his bed,
Then led the horse within the other, where
He stripped and rubbed him; next, the beast he fed,
And added litter to the plenty there,
Then quickly vanished.
Then led the horse within the other, where
He stripped and rubbed him; next, the beast he fed,
And added litter to the plenty there,
Then quickly vanished.
The king lay down, though hungry, happy he
To hear his horse's champ, and fell asleep;
But sudden came a burst of melody,
And waked the monarch from his slumber deep
With its sweet numbers.
To hear his horse's champ, and fell asleep;
But sudden came a burst of melody,
And waked the monarch from his slumber deep
With its sweet numbers.
101
There stood an angel in a flood of light,
And spake: “All selfish feeling having curbed
To do thy duty to thy horse aright,
No dreams begotten of remorse disturbed
Thy placid slumbers.
And spake: “All selfish feeling having curbed
To do thy duty to thy horse aright,
No dreams begotten of remorse disturbed
Thy placid slumbers.
“Back to thy duty, and in that be strong;
Therein shall lie reward enough for thee;
Leave joy to others; crush to earth the wrong;
Defend the right; thy people's father be—
King of the lowly.”
Therein shall lie reward enough for thee;
Leave joy to others; crush to earth the wrong;
Defend the right; thy people's father be—
King of the lowly.”
The angel and the glory passed away;
The monarch felt of sleep again the touch;
His slumber lasted till the dawn of day,
When he arose, and cheered and strengthened much,
Rode homeward slowly.
The monarch felt of sleep again the touch;
His slumber lasted till the dawn of day,
When he arose, and cheered and strengthened much,
Rode homeward slowly.
King Cedric ruled o'er Mercia many a year:
Found naught affecting right too small for reck;
Gave to the injured ever-willing ear;
Upheld the weak, and kept the strong in check;
Showed law victorious;
Found naught affecting right too small for reck;
Gave to the injured ever-willing ear;
Upheld the weak, and kept the strong in check;
Showed law victorious;
By the firm use of measures wise and just,
Made labor prosperous and the realm content;
And now, though ages since his form was dust,
His laws remain his lasting monument,
His memory glorious.
Made labor prosperous and the realm content;
And now, though ages since his form was dust,
His laws remain his lasting monument,
His memory glorious.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |