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The King's Jester

It's oh to bear a weary heart
    Among the shine and show!
The little streams run cheerily,
    Adown the hills I know.

Men brought me from my distant home
    Because my jests were bright,
And clad me in a motley coat
    To be the King's delight.

And now my heart aches while I smile,
    Mine eyes are dim with woe.
The gallant wind goes merrily
    Across the hills I know.

What heed! tho' smiles be far from me,
    And hearts be rent with pain,
The jester's bells must chime their glee,
    My lord must smile again.

It's oh to wear the motley coat
    Above a heart of woe!
The birds are calling all day long
    About the hills I know.

Notes

From WINGS OF THE MORNING, edited by Cicely Fox Smith, published by Elkin Mathews, London, UK, © 1904, p. 102.

Charley Noble

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