 | Voices and visions |  |
39
DEI GRATIÂ
The height of his dead father's throne he gained,
With supple courtiers cringing at his nod.
A shallow and beardless boy, thenceforth he reigned
By the grace of God.
With supple courtiers cringing at his nod.
A shallow and beardless boy, thenceforth he reigned
By the grace of God.
Impervious to the people's blame or praise,
Through codes of civic needs he scorned to plod;
With harlots, dice and wine he passed his days—
By the grace of God.
Through codes of civic needs he scorned to plod;
With harlots, dice and wine he passed his days—
By the grace of God.
But oft, when spurned by some rash whim of rule,
O'er laws and liberties he rode rough-shod,
And lived as reprobate no less than fool,
By the grace of God.
O'er laws and liberties he rode rough-shod,
And lived as reprobate no less than fool,
By the grace of God.
For years the crown did he thus coarsely keep,
Wearing its grandeur like a dolt and clod,
Then died one evening in a drunken sleep—
By the grace of God.
Wearing its grandeur like a dolt and clod,
Then died one evening in a drunken sleep—
By the grace of God.
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