Chronicles and Characters By Robert Lytton (Owen Meredith): In Two Volumes |
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| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
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| I. |
| II. | II.THE BOY AND THE RING. |
| III. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
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| IX. |
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 | Chronicles and Characters |  |
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II.THE BOY AND THE RING.
Fair chance, held fast, is merit. A certain king
Of Persia had a jewel in a ring.
He set it on the dome of Azud high;
And, when they saw it flashing in the sky,
Made proclamation to his royal troop,
That whoso sent an arrow thro' the hoop
That held the gem, should have the ring to wear.
Of Persia had a jewel in a ring.
He set it on the dome of Azud high;
And, when they saw it flashing in the sky,
Made proclamation to his royal troop,
That whoso sent an arrow thro' the hoop
That held the gem, should have the ring to wear.
It chanced there were four hundred archers near,
Of the king's company, about the king.
Of the king's company, about the king.
Each took his aim, and shot, and miss'd the ring.
A boy, at play upon the terraced roof
Of a near building, bent his bow aloof
At random, and behold! the morning breeze
His little arrow caught, and bore with ease
Right thro' the circlet of the gem. The king,
Well-pleased, unto the boy assign'd the ring.
Then the boy burnt his arrows and his bow.
Of a near building, bent his bow aloof
At random, and behold! the morning breeze
His little arrow caught, and bore with ease
Right thro' the circlet of the gem. The king,
Well-pleased, unto the boy assign'd the ring.
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The king, astonish'd, said “Why dost thou so,
Seeing thy first shot hath had great success?”
Seeing thy first shot hath had great success?”
He answer'd “Lest my second make that less.”
| Chronicles and Characters | |