In Cornwall and Across the Sea With Poems Written in Devonshire. By Douglas B. W. Sladen |
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KING CHARLIE. |
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 | In Cornwall and Across the Sea |  |
216
KING CHARLIE.
[Written upon the Third Birthday of the Author's Son.]
Charles the Bold and Charles the Bad,
Charles the Great and the Victorious,
Set beside this little lad,
Where are now your triumphs glorious—
If the living dog is held
Better than the slaughtered Lion,
As the prophet wrote of eld?
Ye are shadows like Ixion.
Charles the Great and the Victorious,
Set beside this little lad,
Where are now your triumphs glorious—
If the living dog is held
Better than the slaughtered Lion,
As the prophet wrote of eld?
Ye are shadows like Ixion.
217
Charles the Martyr, Charles the Mad,
Charles the Swede and Charles the Hammer,
Ye, for all the pow'r ye had
Not one syllable can stammer.
Yonder boy, in slumber calm
Dreaming of some fairy story,
Has more strength in his right arm
Than have ye for all your glory.
Charles the Swede and Charles the Hammer,
Ye, for all the pow'r ye had
Not one syllable can stammer.
Yonder boy, in slumber calm
Dreaming of some fairy story,
Has more strength in his right arm
Than have ye for all your glory.
With the fair white robes of youth,
Childhood's golden crown upon him,
Only the bright side of truth
Told him yet, do we enthrone him.
Use thy power well, small king!
Thou hast all the world before thee;
If thou lose it dallying,
We can never quite restore thee.
Childhood's golden crown upon him,
Only the bright side of truth
Told him yet, do we enthrone him.
Use thy power well, small king!
Thou hast all the world before thee;
If thou lose it dallying,
We can never quite restore thee.
218
Are their names remembered still,
Having gone not as their cares have?
Yes, for few do deeds that will
Stand the test of time as theirs have.
Yet these Charleses, in their day,
Though the world could scarce contain them,
Now that they have passed away,
Little board-school boys arraign them.
Having gone not as their cares have?
Yes, for few do deeds that will
Stand the test of time as theirs have.
Yet these Charleses, in their day,
Though the world could scarce contain them,
Now that they have passed away,
Little board-school boys arraign them.
Child King Charlie, anxious eyes
On thy future are directed:
Is the monarch we so prize
Worthily a king elected?
Who shall tell us,—if there be
No such thing as after-life time,
If no resting-place have we
After labour-time and strife-time?
On thy future are directed:
Is the monarch we so prize
Worthily a king elected?
Who shall tell us,—if there be
No such thing as after-life time,
If no resting-place have we
After labour-time and strife-time?
219
Charles the Swede and Charles Martel,
Charles the Great and the Victorious,
History hath loved you well;
May this small king be as glorious!
May your good alone proceed,
And this child illuminate,
Charles Martel and Charles the Swede,
The Victorious and the Great!
Charles the Great and the Victorious,
History hath loved you well;
May this small king be as glorious!
May your good alone proceed,
And this child illuminate,
Charles Martel and Charles the Swede,
The Victorious and the Great!
| In Cornwall and Across the Sea | |