A COAT-OF-ARMS
147
Alfred—who never burned a cake!
Arthur—who had no Table Round,
Nor knight like Launcelot of the Lake,
Nor ruled one rood of British ground!
Arthur—who had no Table Round,
Nor knight like Launcelot of the Lake,
Nor ruled one rood of British ground!
Lear, who outraved the storm—at most
The crown is straw that crowns old age;
And Hamlet's father———he's a ghost?
A real ghost, though—on the stage!
The crown is straw that crowns old age;
And Hamlet's father———he's a ghost?
A real ghost, though—on the stage!
Edwards and Henrys—and of these
Old Bluebeard Hal, from whom you take
Your own bluff manners, if you please!
———Let's love him, for Queen Catherine's sake!
Old Bluebeard Hal, from whom you take
Your own bluff manners, if you please!
———Let's love him, for Queen Catherine's sake!
Richard from Holy Land, who heard—
Or did not hear—poor Blondel's song;
That other Richard, too, the Third,
Whom Shakespeare does a grievous wrong;
Or did not hear—poor Blondel's song;
That other Richard, too, the Third,
Whom Shakespeare does a grievous wrong;
But—still he murdered in the Tower
The pretty princes? Charles, whose head,
At Cromwell's breath, fell as a flower
Falls at the frost—as I have read.
The pretty princes? Charles, whose head,
At Cromwell's breath, fell as a flower
Falls at the frost—as I have read.
