 | [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings |  |
THE THRONE AND THE COTTAGE.
I.
There once was a king on his throne of gold seated;
His courtiers in smiles were all standing around;
They heard him with news of fresh victories greeted;
The skies with the joy of his people resound;
And all thought this king was most thoroughly blest,
Till sadly he sigh'd forth his secret unrest:
His courtiers in smiles were all standing around;
They heard him with news of fresh victories greeted;
The skies with the joy of his people resound;
And all thought this king was most thoroughly blest,
Till sadly he sigh'd forth his secret unrest:
“How much more delight to my bosom 'twould bring
To feel myself happy, than know myself king!”
To feel myself happy, than know myself king!”
II.
“Ah, what, while such power and such treasure possessing,”
(A courtier, astonish'd, stept forward and cried,)
“Could fortune bestow in exchange for the blessing?”
And thus to the courtier the king straight replied:
“Health, a cottage, few friends and a heart all my own
Were Heav'n, in exchange for the cares of a throne!”
(A courtier, astonish'd, stept forward and cried,)
“Could fortune bestow in exchange for the blessing?”
And thus to the courtier the king straight replied:
“Health, a cottage, few friends and a heart all my own
Were Heav'n, in exchange for the cares of a throne!”
“Then, sire, if no longer to empire you cling,
Seek these, and be happy, and let me be king!”
Seek these, and be happy, and let me be king!”
III.
The king gave the courtier his throne and descended;He long'd for delights of retirement to prove,
And now for the first time around him there blended
The smiles of contentment, and friendship, and love
But the courtier soon came to the king in his cot;
“Oh, no!” said the king, “I'll no more change my lot!
Think not, that, once freed from the diadem's sting,
I'll give up my cottage and stoop to be king!”
| [Poems by Payne in] John Howard Payne ... his life and writings | |