The King and I

The King rules over the country;But never a whit care I,My little meagre dominionIs all in my hopeful eye.He has a million of troubles;I am at peace with man,I have put ill-tempered ambitionUnder eternal ban:Why should I envy royalty?Answer me, if you can!

The Queen smiles on her courtiers,The duke's lips press her hand;My little wife would scorn kissesFrom the noblest in the land!Given to me her heart is,Sacred to me her lips,—Never dares an admirerPress e'en her finger-tips;And her gentle, wifely beautyPuts the Queen in eclipse.

The King is a jovial liver,Drinks of the rubiest wine,Is clothed in the royal ermineAnd linen matchlessly fine;Has pages to guess his wishes,Minions to come at his nod,

And amid his palace royaltiesRules like a demigod!Which will lie highest and softest,He, or I, under the sod?

Give me my lowly cottage,My wife and my brown-eyed girl!One is my royal diamond,The other my priceless pearl!Go, King! ride, drink, and conquer,Joy in your birth and your pride;I wouldn't lift up a fingerTo sit on the throne by your side!For God and a true love have blessed me;What can I ask for beside?