KING THEOBALD A fair day, my folk, have I had in your fellowship, And as fair a day cometh to-morrow to greet us, When the lord of the Golden Land bringeth us tribute: Grace the gifts of my good-hap with your presence, I pray you. THE PEOPLE God save Theobald the Good, the king of his people! HONORIUS (_aside_) Yea, save him! and send the Gold lords away satisfied, That the old sword of Pharamond, lying asleep there In the new golden scabbard, will yet bite as aforetime! [_They pass away into the palace court._ KING PHARAMOND Troop past in the twilight, O pageant that served me, Pour through the dark archway to the light that awaits you In the chamber of daïs where I once sat among you! Like the shadows ye are to the shadowless glory Of the banquet-hall blazing with gold and light go ye: There blink for a little at your king in his bravery, Then bear forth your faith to the blackness of night-tide, And fall asleep fearless of memories of Pharamond, And in dim dreams dream haply that ye too are kings --For your dull morrow cometh that is as to-day is. Pass on in contentment, O king, I discerned not Through the cloak of your blindness that saw nought beside thee, That feared for no pain and craved for no pleasure! Pass on, dead-alive, to thy place! thou art worthy: Nor shalt thou grow wearier than well-worshipped idol That the incense winds round in the land of the heathen, While the early and latter rains fall as God listeth, And on earth that God loveth the sun riseth daily. --Well art thou: for wert thou the crown of all rulers, No field shouldst thou ripen, free no frost-bounden river, Loose no heart from its love, turn no soul to salvation, Thrust no tempest aside, stay no plague in mid ocean, Yet grow unto thinking that thou wert God's brother, Till loveless death gripped thee unloved, unlamented. --Pass forth, weary King, bear thy crown high to-night! Then fall asleep, fearing no cry from times bygone, But in dim dreams dream haply that thou art desired,-- --For thy dull morrow cometh, and is as to-day is.