KING CANUTE

KING CANUTE
KING CANUTE was weary-hearted ; he had reigned
for years a score.
Battling, struggling, pushing, fighting, killing much
and robbing $nore ;
And he thought upon his actions, walking by the
wild sea-shore.
'Twixt the chancellor and bishop walked the king
with steps sedate,
Chamberlains and grooms came after, silversticks
and goldsticks great,
Chaplains, aides-de-camp, and pages—all the officers
of state.
Sliding after like his shadow, pausing when he chose
to pause ;
If a frown his face contracted, straight the courtiers
dropped their jaws;
If to laugh the king was minded, out they burst in
loud hee-haws.
But that day a something vexed him, that was clear
to old and young : 10
Thrice his grace had yawned at table, when his
favourite gleemen sung,
Once the queen would have consoled him, but he
bade her hold her tongue.
" Something ails my gracious master," cried the
keeper of the seal.
" Sure, my lord, it is the lampreys served at dinner,
or the veal ? "
" Pshaw ! " exclaimed the angry monarch. " Keeper,
'tis not that I feel."