The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-11-22

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NoBERT Of Sicily. brother Of Pore Uroane
IL And valnond. Emperor Of Allemane'
n Apparelled In magnificent ATTIRE tl#M
~ v with rctnue Of many knight and squire @
on St. Johns eve, at vespers, proudly sat
And heard the priests chant the Magnihcat
And as he listened, Ger and Ger again s|S&
Repeated. like a burden or refrain s3s54r 4
He caught the words "Deposuit potentes ~
De sede ct exaltavit humes:
And slowly Hitting up his knEy head
He to a learned clerk beside him sald af
hat mean these words? The clerk made answer meg
HE has put down the mighty from their seat
And has exalted thSm OF low degree. s #.5
Thereat King Robert nuttered scornfuly sS25 ESaS5
1T Is we'll that such seditious words are sung 8sl
Only by priests and In the Latin tongue;
For unto priests and peoplM be It known.
There is no power can push mo from my throne" ,
And leaning back he yawnch and fell asleep iS
Luled by the chant monotonous and deep. .% 3s .$
When he awoke. It was already night;
The church was empty. and there was no light,
Save where the lamps that Emmered few and rant,
Lighted a little space before some saint
He started from his seat and gazed around.
But no living thing and heard no sound
He CROPPED towards the door, but Il was locked
He cried aloud, and listened. and then knocked
And uttered awful threa Jennings and complaints
And mprecatIons upon and saints 5.s M u
The sounds re-echoed from the roof and walls
AS Ii dead priests were laughing in their stalls
At,lengta the sexton. hearing from without
The tu1nult OF the knocking 9pd the shout
And thinking thieves were In tho house OF prayer,
Came with his lantern. asking. Who is there7
Half choked with rage King Robert ferceY said
"Open: t Is I, the KiES! Art thou afraid7
The frightened sexton, mutterng. with curse
This drunken vagabond, or worse!
Turned the great key and flung the portal u'1de
A man rushed by him at single stride.
Haggard. half naked. without hat or cloak.
who neither turned, nor looked at him. nor spoke
But eaped Into the blackness OF the night, .E.,
And vanished like spectre from his sight
Robert OF Sicily, brother OF Pope Urbane
And yalmond. Emperor OF Allenaine
Despoiled Of his magnificent attire
I3areneaded, breathless. and bcsprent with rnre
with sense of wrong md outrage desperate.
Strobe on and Numbered at, the palace gate;
Flushed through the courtyard. hrusting in mis- rage
To right and left each seneschal and page.
And hurried up the broad and sounding starr.
Ills white face chastity in the torches glare
From hall TO hall he passed with breathless speed;
Voices and cries he hea I'd, but did not heed.
Until at last he reached the banquet room,
Blazing with light. and breathing with perfume
There on the dals sat another king,
Wearing his robes. IT'S crown, his slsnetrng asr
King Roberts self In features. form. and height
But all transhgured with angelic light!
1t was Angel and his presence there
with a divine efugence filled the air.
An exaltaton, piercing the disguise.
Though mona the hidden Angel recognize
A moment speeches.. notlonless amazed,
Tho throneless monarch the Angel gazed,
Who met his look OF anger and surprise
With the divine compassion OF his eyes;
Then said. Who art thou? and why contest thou here'
To which King Robert answered with a sheer.
II am tho King. and to claim my own
From inposter. who usurps my, throne!"
And suddenly at these audaclous words.
Up sprang the angry guests, and drew their swords;
The Angel answered. with unrufhcd brow.
NAY, not the King, but the Kings Jester thou
Henceforth shall wear the bells and scaloped cape,
And for thy counsellor shalt lead an ape: y
Thou shalt obey my servants when they call,
And wait upon my henchmen in the hall" sFF
Deaf King Roberts threats and cries and prayers
They thrust him from the hall and down tho salrs;
A group OF uttcr1ng pages ran before,
And they opened wide the fodlng.door, 4
Ills failed. for he heard. with strange alarms
The bosterous laughter OF the men-at'arms,
And all the vauted chamber roar and ring
with the mock paudits Of "Long live the King!"
Next morning, waking with the days FIRST beam,
He said within himself 1T dream"
But the rlstled as he turned his head,
There were the cap and bells beside his bed.
Around him rose the bare. discolpred walls
Close BY. the steeds were champpg In their stalls
And In the corner, revolving shape.
shlvering and chattering sat the wretched ape.
It was no dream; the world he loved SO much
Had turned to dust and ashes at his touch 5!t as
Days came and went; and now returned again
TO Sicily the old saturnan reign;
Under the Angels governance benign
The happy island danced with corn and wine,
Poems you ought know began the Times Dis
segr In view OF the fact that Mr. Sothern III
Robert Of Sicily" the Times-Ds patch will not p,
ntl Tues lay the 24th.
be married and the wedding is about restitution For re