OLD BALLAD [WITH AN OLD BURTHEN] by THOMAS HOOD

THERE was a Fairy lived in a well,
And she pronounced a magical spell;
"Whoever looks in this wave," she said,
"Shall see the lady that he's to wed!"

A King came by with his hunting-spear
And stoop'd to look in the waters clear;
He laid by the brim his signet of gold,
And gave his Brother his crown to hold.

But while he knelt and was looking down,
His Brother stood and tried-on the crown;
The pearls were bright, and the rubies brave,
So he tumbled his brother into the wave.

"Oh Brother, oh Brother, you've got my ring
And the lawful crown that made me king;
But your heart shall fail, and your hand shall quake,
And the head that wears my jewels shall ache!"

The murderer stood and look'd from the brink,
"The sun is so hot, I should like to drink!"
But lo! as he stoop'd with a silver cup,
His head went down, and his heels flew up!

"Oh! Brother, oh! Brother, -- I've got your crown,
But the weight of the jewels has pull'd me down,
You shall be crown'd in the skies again, --
But I shall be mark'd on the brow like Cain!"

Down he sank in the dismal wave,
As cold as death, and dark as the grave;
But when he came to the stones at last,
The Fairy caught him, and held him fast.

She took him into her crystal hall
And there he saw his face in the wall;
She look'd rosy, but he look'd white,
And all the tapers were burning bright.

The King leap'd down from his Fairy throne,
With eyes that brighter than diamonds shone;
His left hand balanced a golden globe,
But his right hand lifted his purple robe.

"Oh Brother! oh Brother! bend down your knee,
But kneel to Heaven, and not to me,
For God may frown on your grievous sin,
But I'm too happy you push'd me in.

Come hither, come hither, you're welcome now,
To my crown of gold that decks your brow;
There's smiles worth heav'n on my true-love's face,
And she has made me King of this place!"

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

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