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Assembled, seeing him alone,

And fell on him with stick and stone,

With will his goods to rob and steal.

And then men met and made appeal,

Each unto each, a tax to pay,

Whereby their king from disarray

To guard, and all the people vowed

From out their lands should be allowed

A fair and wide domain, and thus

Began the burden onerous

Of kings and princes, as ye see

Writ plain in many a history.

And in these scriptures are we told

The ways and works of men of old,

And unto those through whom we get

Such knowledge, owe we deepest debt

Of thanks and praise.

With toil past measure

Men then began to heap up treasure,

Winning, from out the rich stored earth,

Silver and gold and stones of worth,

And soon thereof with toil they coined

Round pieces, and of metals, joined

With gems, they fairest jewels made,

Vessels, and rings; and many a blade

For sword and dagger of bright steel,

And arms and axes wrought, to deal

Death blows, and well-knit coat and helm

’Neath which to fight and overwhelm

Their fellows, and then towers they placed

Around with high-built walls encased,

And cities fair, and palaces,

Wherein they looked to dwell at ease,

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