KING HILARY AND THE BEGGERMAN _Of Hilary the Great and Good They tell a tale at Christmas time I've often thought the story would Be prettier but just as good If almost anybody should Translate it into rime. So I have done the best I can For lack of some more learned man._ Good King Hilary Said to his Chancellor (Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor): "Run to the wicket-gate Quickly, quickly, Run to the wicket gate And see who is knocking. It may be a rich man, Sea-borne from Araby, Bringing me peacocks, Emeralds and ivory; It may be a poor man, Travel-worn and weary, Bringing me oranges To put in my stocking." Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor, Laughed both loud and free:[1] "I've served Your Majesty, man to man, Since first Your Majesty's reign began, And I've often walked, but I never, never ran, Never, never, never," quoth he. [Footnote 1: Haw! Haw! Haw!] Good King Hilary Said to his Chancellor (Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor): "Walk to the wicket-gate Quickly, quickly, Walk to the wicket-gate And see who is knocking. It may be a captain, Hawk-nosed, bearded, Bringing me gold-dust, Spices, and sandalwood: It may be a scullion, Care-free, whistling, Bringing me sugar-plums To put in my stocking." Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor, Laughed both loud and free: "I've served in the Palace since I was four, And I'll serve in the Palace a-many years more, And I've opened a window, but never a door, Never, never, never," quoth he. Good King Hilary Said to his Chancellor (Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor): "Open the window Quickly, quickly, Open the window And see who is knocking. It may be a waiting-maid, Apple-cheeked, dimpled, Sent by her mistress To bring me greeting; It may be children, Anxious, whispering, Bringing me cobnuts, To put in my stocking." Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor, Laughed both loud and free: "I'll serve Your Majesty till I die-- As Lord Chancellor, not as spy To peep from lattices; no, not I, Never, never, never," quoth he. Good King Hilary Looked at his Chancellor (Proud Lord Willoughby, Lord High Chancellor): He said no word To his stiff-set Chancellor, But ran to the wicket-gate To see who was knocking. He found no rich man Trading from Araby; He found no captain, Blue-eyed, weather-tanned; He found no waiting-maid Sent by her mistress; But only a beggarman With one red stocking.