THE KING AND I.
45
THE KING AND I.
The King rules over the country;
But never a whit care I,
My little meagre dominion
Is all in my hopeful eye.
He has a million of troubles;
I am at peace with man,
I have put ill-tempered ambition
Under eternal ban:
Why should I envy royalty?
Answer me, if you can!
But never a whit care I,
My little meagre dominion
Is all in my hopeful eye.
He has a million of troubles;
I am at peace with man,
I have put ill-tempered ambition
Under 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 kisses
From the noblest in the land!
Given to me her heart is,
Sacred to me her lips,—
Never dares an admirer
Press e'en her finger-tips;
And her gentle, wifely beauty
Puts the Queen in eclipse.
The duke's lips press her hand;
My little wife would scorn kisses
From the noblest in the land!
Given to me her heart is,
Sacred to me her lips,—
Never dares an admirer
Press e'en her finger-tips;
And her gentle, wifely beauty
Puts the Queen in eclipse.
The King is a jovial liver,
Drinks of the rubiest wine,
Is clothed in the royal ermine
And linen matchlessly fine;
Has pages to guess his wishes,
Minions to come at his nod,
Drinks of the rubiest wine,
Is clothed in the royal ermine
And linen matchlessly fine;
Has pages to guess his wishes,
Minions to come at his nod,
