The Record of Happiness
A king, who languished in his bed,
And wished to test his peoples' weal,
Called to his minister, and said:
“Go, I my people's pulse would feel.
“In yonder square, the throng among,
Hang a great book with pages white,
And let these words be o'er it hung;
Let all whose lives are happy write.”
All day came troops of curious folk
And read the legend o'er the book.
Some smiled, some sighed, some lightly spoke,
Some turned away with thoughtful look.
Old age came tottering on his staff,
And youth with all the wealth of life,
The reveler paused and checked his laugh—
'Twas passed by maiden, bride, and wife.
A doting mother held her child,
And toying with the pen it tried
To write; the mother saw and smiled,
But quick it dropped the pen and cried.
Just with the sun's last lingering look
A beggar tottered to the stand.
They found—when couriers sought the book—
The pen clasped in his lifeless hand.
When to the king the book was sent,
He gazed on the unsullied page.
“None happy? I must be content.”
'Tis said he lived to good old age.
A king, who languished in his bed,
And wished to test his peoples' weal,
Called to his minister, and said:
“Go, I my people's pulse would feel.
“In yonder square, the throng among,
Hang a great book with pages white,
And let these words be o'er it hung;
Let all whose lives are happy write.”
All day came troops of curious folk
And read the legend o'er the book.
Some smiled, some sighed, some lightly spoke,
Some turned away with thoughtful look.
Old age came tottering on his staff,
And youth with all the wealth of life,
The reveler paused and checked his laugh—
'Twas passed by maiden, bride, and wife.
A doting mother held her child,
And toying with the pen it tried
To write; the mother saw and smiled,
But quick it dropped the pen and cried.
Just with the sun's last lingering look
A beggar tottered to the stand.
They found—when couriers sought the book—
The pen clasped in his lifeless hand.
When to the king the book was sent,
He gazed on the unsullied page.
“None happy? I must be content.”
'Tis said he lived to good old age.
And wished to test his peoples' weal,
Called to his minister, and said:
“Go, I my people's pulse would feel.
“In yonder square, the throng among,
Hang a great book with pages white,
And let these words be o'er it hung;
Let all whose lives are happy write.”
All day came troops of curious folk
And read the legend o'er the book.
Some smiled, some sighed, some lightly spoke,
Some turned away with thoughtful look.
Old age came tottering on his staff,
And youth with all the wealth of life,
The reveler paused and checked his laugh—
'Twas passed by maiden, bride, and wife.
A doting mother held her child,
And toying with the pen it tried
To write; the mother saw and smiled,
But quick it dropped the pen and cried.
Just with the sun's last lingering look
A beggar tottered to the stand.
They found—when couriers sought the book—
The pen clasped in his lifeless hand.
When to the king the book was sent,
He gazed on the unsullied page.
“None happy? I must be content.”
'Tis said he lived to good old age.
A king, who languished in his bed,
And wished to test his peoples' weal,
Called to his minister, and said:
“Go, I my people's pulse would feel.
“In yonder square, the throng among,
Hang a great book with pages white,
And let these words be o'er it hung;
Let all whose lives are happy write.”
All day came troops of curious folk
And read the legend o'er the book.
Some smiled, some sighed, some lightly spoke,
Some turned away with thoughtful look.
Old age came tottering on his staff,
And youth with all the wealth of life,
The reveler paused and checked his laugh—
'Twas passed by maiden, bride, and wife.
A doting mother held her child,
And toying with the pen it tried
To write; the mother saw and smiled,
But quick it dropped the pen and cried.
Just with the sun's last lingering look
A beggar tottered to the stand.
They found—when couriers sought the book—
The pen clasped in his lifeless hand.
When to the king the book was sent,
He gazed on the unsullied page.
“None happy? I must be content.”
'Tis said he lived to good old age.
Translation:
Language:
Reviews
No reviews yet.