Littell's Living Age/Volume 127/Issue 1636/Death as the King's Courtier

by Frank T. Marzials

DEATH AS THE KING'S COURTIER.

"I praised the dead which are already dead more than the living which are yet alive." — Ecclesiastes.

Couched in the lap of the last concubine —
Satiate of bitter knowledge, weary-wise —
Watching through heedless and half-opened eyes
The rhythmic dancer-groups divide, entwine,
Divide again, in sway and swirl divine —
Where fitful peeps and lingers, peeps and flies
Some unveiled charm voluptuous — so lies
The languid king, and lifts his cup for wine.

And at the call there comes, with creaking gait,
Yet louting low in uncouth courtier grace.
One rich apparell'd in a robe of state,
At sight of whom all, all shrink back a space —
Save the wan king; he, slow, without debate,

Drains down the cup — and then they hide his face.

Frank T. Marzials

Examiner.