Once, in times long ago, in ages of eld,
Over bright realms, the fairest man e'er beheld,
(These in Rome lay) a King of fame ruled in state,
Prosperous, glad, of joy and fortune innate;
He, a King, high of rank, of auspicious part,
Fair of face, fair of nature, and fair of heart;
All his actions on justice sure did recline,
All his beauty and spirit perfect did shine;
Pure of mind, debonair, in council aright,
Heart-rejoicing, and graceful, the soul making bright,
He, a glorious, stately, most noble King,
Thus 'twas they named him, all his subjects:—King Spring.
Through the stream of his justice the earth blossomed fair,
Like to Eden the world through his mercy's air:
With benignity, grace, and kindness imbued,
With discretion and faultless justice endued:
All around spread his sway like the wind that blows,
Everywhere swept his law like the flood that flows;
Fair his equity e'en as the breeze of dawn,
Making earth's face a verdant, fresh-blooming lawn.
'Midst of his blest dominions none uttered wail,
Save it were 'mongst the flowers the sad nightingale;
'Gainst his neighbor did no one the dagger bare,
Save the fresh blooming lily within the parterre;
To his neighbor did no one anguish impart,
Saving the thorn to the nightingale's heart;
From his neighbor did no one the diadem seize,
The tulip's crown only was stol'n by the breeze.
Herbs, in mighty array, were spread o'er the ground,
Forming a host without limit or bound;
Leaves and fruits did these bear in numbers untold,
Even more than the leaves that the trees unfold.
'Midst of the mead narcissus-eyed guards did stand,
Sentries, gold-uskufed, a numberless band;
Tulip-like, ruby-beakered and ruby-crowned,
Many cup-bearers lovely did him surround;
Guards, like the lily, a thousand he had,
All of these sabre-wearing and armor-clad;
Like the cypress, uprearing proudly the head,
Many warriors valiant his banners spread;
Like the thorn, sharp-featured, wielding the dart,
His were spearsmen who'd pierce the dread lion's heart;
Many couriers his, like the zephyr in speed,
Like the crown-snatching life was each one indeed.
In the heaven of might, a Star bright he beamed;
In the casket of state, a Gem fair he gleamed.
'Midst his life's garden only one rose had blown,
One divine gift to him from God's lofty throne;
Him a daughter had granted the mercy divine,
Who in earth's garden, like the rose, fair did shine;
Though yet but a rosebud, her name was Rose—
In the parterre of grace a rosebud arose!
Many rosebuds, a thousand rosebuds most fair,
Heart-contracted, did envy her mouth in despair;
Ne'er a rival to her in beauty was found,
In her love was the world secure captive bound.