Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1853-04-16
THE DAILY Times
KING CANUTF.

THE DAILY Times
KING CANUTE.
King Canute was weary hearted he had reicna
for years score;
Battling, struggling, pushing, fighting, killing mud
and robbing more,
And he thought upon his actions, walking bv m
wild sea shore.
'Twixt the Chancellor and Bishop walked the Kin
with steps sedate,
Chamberlains and grooms came after, silver sticI
and gold sticks great,
Chaplains, aids-de-camp, and pages.-a the Of
| fcers of state.
Sliding after like his shade, pausing when b
chose to pause;
Ii frown his face contracted, straight the coui
| tiers dropped their jaws;
If to laugh the King was minded, out thew burst a
loud hee-haws.
But thai day something vexed him, that was clea|
to old and young,
Thrice his Grace had yawned at table, when hill
favorite gleeman sung,
Once the Queen would have consoled him. but nd
babe her hold her tongue.
"Something ails my gracious MASTER" cried th(
Keeper of the Seal,
"Sure, my lord, it is the lampreys served at din|
ner, or the vea1!''
'sPsha % exclaimed the angry Monarch, "Keeperl
tits not that feel. Il
"'Tis the heart and not the dinner, fool that doth
my rest IMPAIR
Can King be great as 1 am, prithee and vet know
no care
o, Pm sick, and tired, and weary Some ond
cried, s'The Kings armchair p
Then towards the lackeys turning, quick my lord
the Keeper nodded,
Straight the Kings great chair was brought him |
by two footmen able -boded,
Languidly he sank into it; it was comfortably
wadded.
"Leading on my fierce companions cried bel
cover storm and brine,
have fought and have conquered Where wa4
glory like to mine 20
Loudly all the courtiers echoed "Where is glory
like to thine ?''
ssWhat avail me all my kingdoms Weary am q
now, and old,
Those fair sons have begotten, long to sea ma|
dead and cold;
Would we're, and quiet buried, underneath the ST
lent mould
go, remorse, the writing serpent at my BOSOM
tears and bites;
Horrid, horrid things look on, though put outj
all the lights;
Ghosts of ghastly recollection troop about my bed
of nights.
sCities burning, converts blazing, red with sacr-
legious fires;
Mothers weeping, virgins screaming, yainly for thei
slaughtered sires--''
-.Such tender conscience cries the Bishop,
ssevery one admires. ,-
ssBut for such unpleasant bygones, cease, my gra-
cious Lord, to search,
They're forgotten and forgiven by our holy Mothar
Church;
Never, does she leave her benefactors in the
lurch.
sLook the land is crowned with Ministers, which,
your Grace's bounty raised
Abbeys filled with holy men, where you and Heav
en- are daily praised;
You, my lord, to think of dying on my conscience.
Pm amazed!''
ssNay feel" replied King Canute, ssthat my end|
is drawing near - a
'Don't say so," exclaimed the courtiers (striving|
each to squeeze tear.)
s'Sure your Grace is strong and lusy, and may live
this fifty wear.
ssLive these fifty years!' the Bishop roared, with
actions made to suit,
care you mad, my good Lord Keeper, thus to|
speak of King Canute?
Men have lived thousand years, and sure his Ma
jesty will do It.
ssAdam, Enoch, Lamech, I Canaan, Mahaleel, Methu-
sela,
Lived nine hundred years apiece, and mayn't the
King as well as they ?"
exclaimed the Keeper, ssfervently, y
trust he may.''
ssHe to die q" resumed the Bishop. Gle mortal
like to aus?
Death for him was not intended, though communis
omnibus; - a,,,, yxv,1
KnHrrfts
"With his wondrous skill in healing ne'er Doctor
can compete,
Loathsome lepers, if he touch them, start up clean
upon their feet;
Surely he could raise the dead up, did his Highness
think it meet.
"Did not once the Jewish Captain stay the sun up
on the hill,
And, the while he slew the foemen, bid the silver
moon stand still
So no doubt, could gracious Canute, if it were his