Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-09-11
n. Y. Evening Post.
MEASURE FOR BlEASUR Eo

% o, yes!" the thrOng of listeners cried,
And gathered close the gray old bard beside.
Come, tell us some good tale.'' tale said he
And sadly smiled. "A tale yOu ask of me.
But friends, I fear me have none to tell
That when you hear shall please you over we'll
But as YOU will! A noble Prince one day
AwOke IN strange country, far away
From his dear native land. What stern decree
To these rude shores eXiled him suddenly
He knew not, nor on what fair star had been
That first bright home his happy eyes had seen;
But dimly, like half-remembered dream,
Its tnfted palms and golden waters gleam
Came back upon his yearning soul, that here
Found earth and sea aud sky but chill and drear.
And all that now recalled to him the great
Forgotten splendOrs Of his royal state
Was wide aask of rarest, precious wine,
Clear as the sun, deep as the ruby's shine,
And gemmed cup fashioned with curious art.
Yet strong in vigorous youth and brave of heart,
Bearing his sole possessions In his hand.
He wandered through the world, Ger sea andland,
Unknown of all, simple in garb and glance,
Like those he walked among, save that, perchance'
A silent majesty upon his brow,
That wore the shadow Of a crown cen now,
Marked him the scion OF a kingly race.
And where in town or wood or field, what place
He came on men, he lavishly held up
And filled with his gold wine the DER brimmlng
cup,
And pledged them all and bid them jOyfully
Bring out your best, cen as give to ye"
They drank to him in turn. swift to obey
The summons, Kind enough in their sad way;
But in the Princes heart e'er lived the thought,
'Great God, how poor they are" seeing they
brought
But shallow gOblets made Of brittle glass,
Or cups of common metal, tin and brass;
And when he tasted of their prohered draft,
He found twas pale, fiat water that he quaned.
While they his wine scarce touched with lips, cut
Strange faces, and would shake their heads and
HE
To hand it back to him, turning round,
Empty it slyly out upon the ground.
He wandered thus for many day and year,
Not joyful, as at first, nor full of cheer,
Yet ever by undying hope led on,
Through gathering twilight and gray. starless
dawn;
But evermore deceived by all the throng
That crossed his path; and though his life was
| long,
Even when his hair turned white, his eye grew
Measure for measure none had given to him.
"well. and what then? The ends' his hearer
i AS now the old bard paused and bent his head
Another smile, and sadder than before,
| Passed DER his lips: " Good friends. know NJ
more!
What was the Princes end cannot say,
Save that, perchance, late on a wintry day,
His empty flask beside him, he was found
Dead by the roadside on the barren ground"
| 81 o, but who was he, pray?' they asked again; .
| IS Give us his name! And who those other men:
But now his eye lit up with sudden scorn
AS he cried out: +" See here the kingly-born!
| And look around among yourselves to find
| Those villagers of shallow heart and mind"'
| And rising turned his back on them, while they
Gazed after him in open -mouthed dismay.
STUART STERNE.