Paved with old slabs and cobbles cracked and scarred Where weeds had pushed, and tiles and broken glass Had fallen and been trodden in the grass. A gutter dripped upon it from the rain. [Pg 54]"It puts a crown of lead upon my brain To live this life of princes," thought the Prince. "To be a king is to be like a quince, Bitter himself, yet flavour to the rest. To be a cat among the hay were best; There in the upper darkness of the loft, With green eyes bright, soft-lying, purring soft, Hearing the rain without; not forced, as I, To lay foundation stones until I die, Or sign State-papers till my hand is sick. The man who plaits straw crowns upon a rick Is happier in his crown than I the King. And yet, this day, a very marvellous thing Came by me as I walked the chamber here. Once in my childhood, in my seventh year, I saw them come, and now they have returned, Those strangers, riding upon cars that burned, Or seemed to burn, with gold, while music thrilled, Then beauty following till my heart was filled, And life seemed peopled from eternity. [Pg 55]They brought down Beauty and Wisdom from the sky Into the streets, those strangers; I could see Beauty and wisdom looking up at me As then, in childhood, as they passed below. Men would not let me know them long ago, Those strangers bringing joy. They will not now. I am a prince with gold about my brow; Duty, not joy, is all a prince's share. And yet, those strangers from I know not where, From glittering lands, from unknown cities far Beyond the sea-plunge of the evening star, Would give me life, which princedom cannot give. They would be revelation: I should live. I may not deal with wisdom, being a king." There came a noise of someone entering; He turned his weary head to see who came. It was King Cole, arrayed as though in flame, Like a white opal, glowing from within, [Pg 56]He entered there in snowy cramoisin. The Prince mistook him for a city lord, He turned to him and waited for his word. "Sir," said King Cole, "I come to bring you news. Sir, in the weary life that princes use There is scant time for any prince or king To taste delights that artists have and bring. But here, to-night, no other duty calls, And circus artists are without the walls. Will you not see them, sir?" Like floating flowers [Pg 51] [Pg 52] [Pg 53]
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