Classic Poem

King William dreamt a hideous dream;
He left his couch in fear;
His knights he bade to the forest's shade
Ride forth to hunt the deer.

And when they to the forest came,
Awhile the king stood still;
A cloth-yard shaft to each he gave,
The goodly deer to kill.

The king rides past a lofty oak,
A hart springs full in view;
His trusty bow in haste he draws—
The string is snapped in two!

Sir Tyrrel may shoot with better luck:
Sir Tyrrel his bow soon bends;
The shaft the king so lately gave
To the giver's heart he sends.

Sir Tyrrel through the forest flees,
Flees over sea and shore;
Like a startled deer he flees, but finds
No rest for evermore!

Prince Henry rides thro' the forest shade,
Both hind and hare he sees;
“The shaft a king hath given should find
Some nobler game than these!”

Full soon a train of noble knights
Ride up in eager haste;
Tidings they bring of the murdered king;
The crown on the prince they placed.

“In this sad chase 'tis thine to gain,
Great prince! the choicest prey;
The Leopard proud thou hast chased and ta'en;
Fair England's thine this day!”