Royal Ring
Lay meanwhile in the square,
Sunned him like any other,
And rubbed his shoulders there.
He snored mid swarms of midges,
He smiled to watch the fleas;
He looked around and slapped, though,
When gadflies came to tease.—
He bought then for four coppers
The barrel, if you please.
Sunned him like any other,
And rubbed his shoulders there.
He snored mid swarms of midges,
He smiled to watch the fleas;
He looked around and slapped, though,
When gadflies came to tease.—
He bought then for four coppers
The barrel, if you please.
The luckless folk who neared him
Would hold their noses tight;
The doors, as if they feared him,
Would shut in sudden fright;
The huckster's fruit all scudded
In haste behind his bench:
Because that barrel flooded
The quarter with its stench.
Would hold their noses tight;
The doors, as if they feared him,
Would shut in sudden fright;
The huckster's fruit all scudded
In haste behind his bench:
Because that barrel flooded
The quarter with its stench.
Outside the town he quickly
Turned upside down the thing.
There lay, half-hid in sickly
Old cabbage-leaves, the ring!!
Turned upside down the thing.
There lay, half-hid in sickly
Old cabbage-leaves, the ring!!
A hundred years 'twas missing
Despite all search, and now
Behold! it crowned, caressing,
Umballa's dusky brow.
Despite all search, and now
Behold! it crowned, caressing,
Umballa's dusky brow.
Then through the horse-shoe gateways
A festal throng poured out.
A festal throng poured out.
36
