King and Fate

THE KING AND FATE

There once was a king
Who was talking to Fate,
And this was the subject
Of their debate.

"What makes someone happy
Is gold in good store!"
The king decared grandly,
"Of that I am sure!"

"But wealth is no use,
As time will yet tell,"
Smiled Fate, "you must find
Good fortune as well."

Just then as they spoke
A beggar came by.
"Give alms for the poor!"
They both heard him cry.

"I'll prove what I say,"
Said the king with a grin,
And he sent men to bring
The poor beggar in.

The beggar was trembling
Before the king's throne;
But the king smiled and said,
"Here's something I own."

"This ring of bright gold
With diamond so bright
I give to you- see
How it sparkles with light!"

So saying he gave
The ring from his hand
And said to the beggar,
"Go buy house and land."

The beggar in wonder
Was bowing to go;
But Fate softly spoke,
"What is so still is so."

And under his breath
He sang a soft song:
"So easily come,
So easily gone."

Next morning the king
Looked down from on high
When he saw the same beggar
In rags coming by.

He called for the beggar,
Asked him to explain
Just why he was there
And begging again.

"Your Highness, forgive me,
Misfortune was mine
For I lost your great ring
In almost no time."

"I stood on a bridge
And held it up high,
Its great diamond sparkling
Against the blue sky."

"But just as I did
A horseman rode by
And shouted, "Give way!"
With a loud, sudden cry.

"So badly I startled,
I let the ring go
And lost it forever
In the river below."

"Take this, my small gift,"
Said Fate softly now,
"Though it is but small,
It now has my power."

"Tomorrow you'll find
More luck than today!
With two copper coins
Now go on your way."

Next morning the king
Was looking from high
When he saw the same beggar
Come dancing on by.

All dressed in new clothes
With a smile on his face,
He was singing and prancing
All over the place.

The king was amazed
And sent for him there
To ask why he seemed
To be without care.

"Your Highness, I felt
Cast down in despair
So I went to the market
That's in the town square."

"Yes, I went to the market
To see what was there,
And spend my last coins
To ease my despair."

"And as I was hungry
I looked for a dish
And finally settled
Upon a fine fish."

"But would you believe it?
When I ate it I found
Your ring in its belly
Still whole, safe and sound!"

Then Fate smiled and said,
"It's just as I told-
Good fortune is finer
Than any mere gold."