 | Poems |  |
341
WERE I A KING! WERE I A KING!
MY UTOPIA.
Were I a king—were I a king,
How royally my crown I'd wear!
The jewell'd sceptre in my hand,
For more than empty rule, I'd bear;
From those who rail and jest at thrones,
Far other speech, methinks, I'd bring;
My power I'd have by all beloved,
Were I a king—were I a king.
How royally my crown I'd wear!
The jewell'd sceptre in my hand,
For more than empty rule, I'd bear;
From those who rail and jest at thrones,
Far other speech, methinks, I'd bring;
My power I'd have by all beloved,
Were I a king—were I a king.
No chancellor within my realm
Should rule a court, my people's curse;
No law should make, with vile delays,
My justice, than injustice, worse;
To right all wrongs, my judge should sit,
Not, from the wrong'd, their all to wring;
Ho! leeches of the law, you'd starve,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Should rule a court, my people's curse;
No law should make, with vile delays,
My justice, than injustice, worse;
To right all wrongs, my judge should sit,
Not, from the wrong'd, their all to wring;
Ho! leeches of the law, you'd starve,
Were I a king—were I a king.
My courtiers?—nobles such as mine,
When—when by such have Courts been trod?
Not noble by their fathers' names,
But holding all their rank from God;
Mill, Carlyle, Dickens, Herschel, Lough,
Such, round my throne, should greatness bring;
To Tennyson, should Earls give place,
Were I a king—were I a king.
When—when by such have Courts been trod?
Not noble by their fathers' names,
But holding all their rank from God;
Mill, Carlyle, Dickens, Herschel, Lough,
Such, round my throne, should greatness bring;
To Tennyson, should Earls give place,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Ho! statesmen—you to whom I give
The evils of my realm to cure,
Just laws, I'd say, and righteous make,
Alike for all—for rich—for poor;
To squalid hearths—to hungry homes,
Look that your rule seme comfort bring;
Food, leisure, health, I'd have for all,
Were I a king—were I a king.
The evils of my realm to cure,
Just laws, I'd say, and righteous make,
Alike for all—for rich—for poor;
To squalid hearths—to hungry homes,
Look that your rule seme comfort bring;
Food, leisure, health, I'd have for all,
Were I a king—were I a king.
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Not over all that ignorance breeds,
Brute vice—rank evil, would I rule;
No street of all my crowded towns,
No village, but should boast its school;
To loathe the wrong—to love the right,
My teaching, soon, should all men bring,
Nor jail nor gallows shock the sight,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Brute vice—rank evil, would I rule;
No street of all my crowded towns,
No village, but should boast its school;
To loathe the wrong—to love the right,
My teaching, soon, should all men bring,
Nor jail nor gallows shock the sight,
Were I a king—were I a king.
You, Cambridge—Oxford, would I say,
Not for a class's good, you stand;
Your ancient founders will'd your halls
To hold the neediest of the land;
Away with thought of sect and rank;
Your doors to genius open fling;
Give welcome unto all—I'd say,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Not for a class's good, you stand;
Your ancient founders will'd your halls
To hold the neediest of the land;
Away with thought of sect and rank;
Your doors to genius open fling;
Give welcome unto all—I'd say,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Loved of the lowly and the poor,
My church's reverend priests should live,
To unjust power—to titled vice,
Not shrinking stern reproof to give;
Isaiahs of to-day, their cry
Should, strong to smite all evil, ring;
Pauls, they should serve in truth their God,
Were I a king—were I a king.
My church's reverend priests should live,
To unjust power—to titled vice,
Not shrinking stern reproof to give;
Isaiahs of to-day, their cry
Should, strong to smite all evil, ring;
Pauls, they should serve in truth their God,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Go forth, my people, would I say;
Off with you—off—you swarming bees;
From this o'ercrowded hive, go—bear
Your English strength beyond the seas:
The will to work you have; away
To where your work shall comfort bring;
Go—greater Englands found, I'd say,
Were I a king—were I a king.
Off with you—off—you swarming bees;
From this o'ercrowded hive, go—bear
Your English strength beyond the seas:
The will to work you have; away
To where your work shall comfort bring;
Go—greater Englands found, I'd say,
Were I a king—were I a king.
What parks I'd for my people plant!
What gardens for their walks should bloom!
My palaces—I'd welcome, sirs,
Mechanics' feet to every room;
With holidays my realms should shout;
Enjoyments free to all I'd fling;
My pictures should make poor men glad,
Were I a king—were I a king.
What gardens for their walks should bloom!
My palaces—I'd welcome, sirs,
Mechanics' feet to every room;
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Enjoyments free to all I'd fling;
My pictures should make poor men glad,
Were I a king—were I a king.
You smile; yet some perchance may take
For truths, what you but fancies call;
There needs the will, we have the power
To give some gladness unto all;
Ah, he might throne him in our hearts,
Who'd strive to do what I but sing.
What I so feel I'd long to do,
Were I a king—were I a king.
For truths, what you but fancies call;
There needs the will, we have the power
To give some gladness unto all;
Ah, he might throne him in our hearts,
Who'd strive to do what I but sing.
What I so feel I'd long to do,
Were I a king—were I a king.
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