Royal Ring
The baker,—who had nighty
Seen visions all about,
Who dreamt he found the ring in
The middle of his dough,
Nor ceased till through the window
The morning sun would glow,—
Left bread i' th' oven, sprang out
And strewed with all his might
The flour from his trough there
Till all the road was white.
The smith, who erst had brooded,
His hammer at his foot,
So gladly smote the anvil
The air was thick with soot.
The cloth-merchant, who mid pipe-smoke
Had seemed so pale before,
Now piled brocades and silks on
His beast in goodly store.
He came and decked the barrel
In fig-leaf garlands green,
Then laid on pearls and rubies
And cloth of richest sheen.
And high thereon was borne,
Mid kettle-drums a-thunder,
Umballa, the Orient's wonder!
Seen visions all about,
Who dreamt he found the ring in
The middle of his dough,
Nor ceased till through the window
The morning sun would glow,—
Left bread i' th' oven, sprang out
And strewed with all his might
The flour from his trough there
Till all the road was white.
The smith, who erst had brooded,
His hammer at his foot,
So gladly smote the anvil
The air was thick with soot.
The cloth-merchant, who mid pipe-smoke
Had seemed so pale before,
Now piled brocades and silks on
His beast in goodly store.
He came and decked the barrel
In fig-leaf garlands green,
Then laid on pearls and rubies
And cloth of richest sheen.
And high thereon was borne,
Mid kettle-drums a-thunder,
Umballa, the Orient's wonder!
The victor, now, unable
To curb his pride, accosted
His brother, while a sable
Slave with an ibis wing
To curb his pride, accosted
His brother, while a sable
Slave with an ibis wing
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