Page:Rudyard Kipling's verse - Inclusive Edition 1885-1918.djvu/772

 754 RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE

They interrupted his meals he wasn't safe in his bed from

'em They hung round his neck and heels, and at last His

Majesty fled from 'em.

He put on a leper's cloak (people leave lepers alone), Out of the window he broke, and abdicated his throne. All that rapturous day, while his Court and his Ministers

mourned him, He danced on his own highway till his own Policemen warned

him.

Gay and cheerful he ran (lepers don't cheer as a rule) Till he found a philosopher-man teaching an infant-school. The windows were open wide, the King sat down on the grass, And heard the children inside reciting "Our King is an ass." The King popped in his head, "Some people would call this

treason, But I think you are right," he said; "Will you kindly give

me your reason?"

Lepers in school are as rare as kings with a leper's dress on, But the class didn't stop or stare; it calmly went on with the

lesson :

" The wisest thing, we suppose, that a man can do for his land, Is the work that lies under his nose, with the tools that lie under

his hand" The King whipped off his cloak, and stood in his crown before

'em.

He said: "My dear little folk, Ex ore parvulorum (Which is Latin for "Children know more than grown-ups

would credit"')

You have shown me the road to go, and I propose to tread it." Back to his Kingdom he ran, and issued a Proclamation, "Let every living man return to his occupation!" Then he explained to the mob that cheered in his palace and

round it, "I've been to look for a job, and Heaven be praised I've

found it!"