Would chafe my brows to wear. 

 "And thus, a baser alchemist 

 In some perverted plan persist 

 To turn my gold to dross. 

 If I turned my gold their soul were sold 

 Tho' I wore a crown and cloth of gold, 

 Their soul were then the loss. 

 "If I sat high, a crownèd king, 

 With lofty brows in a royal ring, 

 A lustrous diadem, 

 If I wore the titles 'High, Strong, and Wise,' 

 And garments stained with purple dyes, 

 All jewelled at the hem 

 "With emeralds, rubies and jacinth stones, 

 Such as great kings wear on their golden thrones, 

 And a royal mantle of vair, 

 And held a sceptre in my hand, 

 Which showed me ruler of all the land, 

 In my palace, where none might dare 

 "To cross my word, but all must bow 

 Prev. P 30/128 next