Royal Sponsors Thomas Hardy

"The king and the queen will stand to the child;
   'Twill be handed down in song;
And it's no more than their deserving,
With my lord so faithful at Court so long,
        And so staunch and strong.

"O never before was known such a thing!
   'Twill be a grand time for all;
And the beef will be a whole-roast bullock,
And the servants will have a feast in the hall,
        And the ladies a ball.

"While from Jordan's stream by a traveller,
   In a flagon of silver wrought,
And by caravan, stage-coach, wain, and waggon
A precious trickle has been brought,
        Clear as when caught."

The morning came. To the park of the peer
   The royal couple bore;
And the font was filled with the Jordan water,
And the household awaited their guests before
        The carpeted door.

But when they went to the silk-lined cot
   The child was found to have died.
"What's now to be done? We can disappoint not
The king and queen!" the family cried
        With eyes spread wide.