Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, IN THE KING'S PRAISE, by THEODOSIA (PICKERING) GARRISON


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

IN THE KING'S PRAISE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When louis the king is louis the man
Last Line: Is louis the man, is louis the man!
Alternate Author Name(s): Faulks, Frederick J., Mrs.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Royal Court Life; Royalty; Kings; Queens


When Louis the king is Louis the man
'Tis Love the uncanonized rules at court
With frolic and revel and moon-lit sport;
Let the queen go sulk and the priests go hang --
Quick, comrade, your bow to the Montespan
And a ready brain for a quick retort --
When Louis the king is Louis the man.

When Louis the king is Louis of France
It's showing of purple and flood of gold,
And a steady hilt for your hand to hold;
Grave ministers, scholars -- ambassadours.
A stately feast and a decorous dance,
A bow to the Montespan touched with cold --
When Louis the king is Louis of France.

When Louis the king is Louis the priest
The court is as sad as a dog in Lent;
There's cardinal, bishop and penitent
(And Montespan praying for audience).
A funeral face at a dreary feast --
I' faith, but our knees are forever bent
When Louis the king is Louis the priest.

L'Envoi

True to the church is Louis the priest,
True to France is Louis the king;
Faithful ever, to praise him least,
Though never at once to the selfsame thing,
But true to himself and the Montespan
Is Louis the man, is Louis the man!





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