A PEASANT to his lord paid yearly court, Presenting pippins of so rich a sort That he, displeased to have a part alone, Removed the tree, that all might be his own. The tree, too old to travel, though before So fruitful, withered, and would yield no more. The 'squire, perceiving all his labour void, Cursed his own pains, so foolishly employed, And "Oh," he cried, "that I had lived content "With tribute, small indeed, but kindly meant! "My avarice has expensive proved to me, "Has cost me both my pippins and my tree." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE EXEQUY [ON HIS WIFE] by HENRY KING (1592-1669) THE LIGHT THAT LIES by THOMAS MOORE THE OLD MAN AND JIM by JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY LET US HAVE PEACE by NANCY BYRD TURNER THE ARGONAUTS (ARGONATUICA): EROS AND HIS MOTHER by APOLLONIUS RHODIUS SIR RUPERT THE FEARLESS; A LEGEND OF GERMANY by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM |