The King’s Kiss.[414]A king rode forth one summer morn, his vast domain to see;Through fields of wheat and fields of corn, rode on his majesty:Quoth he, “A mighty king am I; whate’er I say must be,For none there lives that dare deny a favor asked by me.”The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.—George M. Vickers.[414]By permission of W. F. Shaw, owner of Copyright.
The King’s Kiss.[414]A king rode forth one summer morn, his vast domain to see;Through fields of wheat and fields of corn, rode on his majesty:Quoth he, “A mighty king am I; whate’er I say must be,For none there lives that dare deny a favor asked by me.”The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.—George M. Vickers.[414]By permission of W. F. Shaw, owner of Copyright.
A king rode forth one summer morn, his vast domain to see;Through fields of wheat and fields of corn, rode on his majesty:Quoth he, “A mighty king am I; whate’er I say must be,For none there lives that dare deny a favor asked by me.”The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.—George M. Vickers.
A king rode forth one summer morn, his vast domain to see;Through fields of wheat and fields of corn, rode on his majesty:Quoth he, “A mighty king am I; whate’er I say must be,For none there lives that dare deny a favor asked by me.”The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.—George M. Vickers.
A king rode forth one summer morn, his vast domain to see;
Through fields of wheat and fields of corn, rode on his majesty:
Quoth he, “A mighty king am I; whate’er I say must be,
For none there lives that dare deny a favor asked by me.”
The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.
The king in search of rest and shade, dismounted in a dell,
Where, drawing water, stood a maid beside a mossy well;
With courtly bow the thirsty king, the proffered draught received,
And as he drank, a gallant thing his royal mind conceived.
“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”
“Fair girl,” said he, “those lips of thine were surely made to kiss,
And fain I’d press them close to mine, refuse me not that bliss.”
“No, no,” the blushing lass replied, “no kiss you’ll get from me,
For I’m a true and promised bride, to one who’s far at sea.”
“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”
“I am the King,” the monarch said, “must I be disobeyed?”
The maiden slowly dropped her head, and trembled, sore afraid:
Then looking up with marble face, and wet but brave blue eye,
Said she, “Ere thus my troth debase, within the well I die!”
“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.—George M. Vickers.
“Enough,” the conquered sovereign cried, “this ring in honor wear,
For truly have I found a bride, as pure as she is fair.”
The king rode off a wiser man than oft is monarch’s lot,
And deemed that naught was sweeter than the kiss he never got.
—George M. Vickers.