Poems By Mary Elizabeth Coleridge |
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| LXXIV. | LXXIVTHE KING'S GUARD |
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 | Poems |  |
72
LXXIV
THE KING'S GUARD
[_]
[The King was an Irish King, and shook a bough, with Golden Apples on it, when he required silence. A henchman entering his room after the Golden Apples had sounded, fell down dead.]
When the Golden Apples shook
In the house of the Irish King,
Never a clerk read from his book,
Never a maid might sing.
In the house of the Irish King,
Never a clerk read from his book,
Never a maid might sing.
The King on his throne sat all alone—
“The ways of the world are lies!
If I hear a whisper near,
He that whispers dies!”
“The ways of the world are lies!
If I hear a whisper near,
He that whispers dies!”
Then one arose: “Our ancient foes
Are galloping hither fast.
He that to the King goes,
That moment is his last.
Are galloping hither fast.
He that to the King goes,
That moment is his last.
73
Come weal or woe, to the King I go,
I am his henchman still.
I will warn him of his ancient foe,
And die an if he will.”
I am his henchman still.
I will warn him of his ancient foe,
And die an if he will.”
Through the silent hall he crept,
Silent as the tomb.
Every footfall as he stept
Echoed about the room.
Silent as the tomb.
Every footfall as he stept
Echoed about the room.
The living, they were as the dead,
And as the dead went he.
The frightened eyes of the good and wise
Followed him silently.
And as the dead went he.
The frightened eyes of the good and wise
Followed him silently.
He heard, as it had been a roar,
The scuffling feet of a rat.
When he came to the King's door,
He dared not knock thereat.
The scuffling feet of a rat.
When he came to the King's door,
He dared not knock thereat.
74
When he came to the King's throne,
He shook in every limb.
The King on his throne sat all alone
And spake no word to him.
He shook in every limb.
The King on his throne sat all alone
And spake no word to him.
“Open his eyes!” the henchman prayed,
“Or ever it be too late!
All his men are sore afraid,
And his ancient foe at the gate.”
“Or ever it be too late!
All his men are sore afraid,
And his ancient foe at the gate.”
“Open his eyes!” the King prayed,
“Or his tongue will scare away
The armèd Angels all arrayed,
The Heralds of the day!”
“Or his tongue will scare away
The armèd Angels all arrayed,
The Heralds of the day!”
The King on his throne sat compassed round
With the ban and the arrière ban
Of the army that with them is found
Who put no trust in man.
With the ban and the arrière ban
Of the army that with them is found
Who put no trust in man.
75
The spirit from the henchman passed,—
Fled to the radiant ring.
His body on the ground was cast,—
But still he guards the King!
Fled to the radiant ring.
His body on the ground was cast,—
But still he guards the King!
| Poems | |