[Two dreams, in] The Reading Club and Handy Speaker being serious, humorous, pathetic, patriotic, and dramatic selections in prose and poetry, for readings and recitations |
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 | [Two dreams, in] The Reading Club and Handy Speaker |  |
11
TWO DREAMS.
Weary the king took off his crown;
In either hand he poised its weight.
“'Tis strange how heavy it has grown,”
He said, and with an impatient frown
He eyed it in a kind of hate;
Then on his bed he laid him down
In either hand he poised its weight.
“'Tis strange how heavy it has grown,”
He said, and with an impatient frown
He eyed it in a kind of hate;
Then on his bed he laid him down
And slept, and in a twinkling dreamed.
Oh, dream of ecstasy and bliss!
Delight through all his senses streamed;
A ragged vagabond he seemed;
Free winds of heaven his hair did kiss;
On his bare skin the free sun beamed.
Oh, dream of ecstasy and bliss!
Delight through all his senses streamed;
A ragged vagabond he seemed;
Free winds of heaven his hair did kiss;
On his bare skin the free sun beamed.
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At morn he waked, bewildered, first,
Or who he was, or where might be;
Then saw the crown, and with a burst
Of sudden rage he swore and cursed:
“No beggar would change lives with me!
Of all hard fates, a king's is worst!”
Or who he was, or where might be;
Then saw the crown, and with a burst
Of sudden rage he swore and cursed:
“No beggar would change lives with me!
Of all hard fates, a king's is worst!”
Outside the palace, on the ground,
Starved half to death, and freezing cold,
Less sheltered than the meanest hound,
A beggar slumbered, safe and sound,
And dreams to him came swift and bold,
As if a palace walled him round.
Starved half to death, and freezing cold,
Less sheltered than the meanest hound,
A beggar slumbered, safe and sound,
And dreams to him came swift and bold,
As if a palace walled him round.
He dreamed he was a king indeed;
Oh, dream of ecstasy and bliss!
Of food, he had his utmost greed;
Of gold, beyond his utmost need;
All men knelt low his hand to kiss,
And gave his word obedient heed.
Oh, dream of ecstasy and bliss!
Of food, he had his utmost greed;
Of gold, beyond his utmost need;
All men knelt low his hand to kiss,
And gave his word obedient heed.
At morn he waked, bewildered first,
Or who he was, or where might be;
Then quick, by hunger and by thirst,
He knew himself, and groaned and cursed:
“No creature pity takes on me!
A beggar's fate of all is worst!”
Or who he was, or where might be;
Then quick, by hunger and by thirst,
He knew himself, and groaned and cursed:
“No creature pity takes on me!
A beggar's fate of all is worst!”
H. H.
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