II. - POETICAL SELECTIONS.

99.-King Canute.

The original story, which Thackeray has so beautifully paraphrased, is thus told by an old English chronicler :

"King Cnut was one day by the sea-shore near Southampton; and when some of the men who were with him spake of his power and greatness, he bade a chair to be placed close to the water's edge. Then said Cnut, 'O Sea, I am thy lord; my ships sail over thee whither I will, and this land against which thou dashest is mine: stay then thy waves, and dare not to wet the feet of thy lord and master.' But the waves came on, for the tide was now coming in; and they came round the chair on which Cnut was sitting, and they wetted his feet and his clothes. Then spake King Cnut to the men that were with him: 'Ye see now how weak is the power of kings and of all men, for ye see that the waves will not hearken to my voice. Honor then God only, and serve him, for him do all things obey.'"

King Canute1 was weary-hearted: he had reigned for years

a score,

Battling, struggling, pushing, fighting, killing much and robbing more;

And he thought upon his actions, walking by the wild sea-shore.

1 King Canute. About a hun- | Danish kings. The word Canute dred years after the death of Alfred (which in Danish is spelled Cnut) the Great (nearly a thousand years is by Thackeray accented someago), the Danes were a short time times on the first and sometimes in possession of England, Canute on the second syllable, according being the most important of the to convenience of meter.

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On that day a something vexed him: that was clear to old and young;

Thrice his Grace had yawned at table when his favorite gleemen sung;

Once the Queen would have consoled him, but he bade her hold her tongue.

"Something ails my gracious master," cried the Keeper of the Seal.

"Sure, my lord, it is the lampreys served at dinner, or the veal?"

"Pshaw!" exclaimed the angry monarch. Keeper, 'tis

not that I feel.

""Tis the heart, and not the dinner, fool, that doth my rest impair:

Can a king be great as I am, prithee, and yet know no

care?

"O, I'm sick, and tired, and weary." Some one cried, "The King's arm-chair!"

Then towards the lackeys turning, quick my Lord the Keeper nodded:

Straight the King's great chair was brought him, by two footmen able-bodied;

Languidly he sank into it: it was comfortably wadded.

"Ah! I feel," said old King Canute, "that my end is drawing near."

"Don't say so," exclaimed the courtiers (striving each to squeeze a tear):

"Sure your Grace is strong and lusty, and may live this fifty year."

"Live these fifty years!" the Bishop roared, with actions made to suit.

"Are you mad, my good Lord Keeper, thus to speak of King Canute?

Men have lived a thousand years, and sure his Majesty will do't.

"With his wondrous skill in healing ne'er a doctor can compete:

Loathsome lepers, if he touch them, start up clean upon their feet:

Surely he could raise the dead up, did his Highness think it meet.

"Did not once the Jewish captain' stay the sun upon

the hill,

And, the while he slew the foeman, bid the silver moon. stand still?

So, no doubt, could gracious Canute, if it were his sacred will."

"Might I stay the sun above us, good Sir Bishop?" Canute cried;

Could I bid the silver moon to pause upon her heavenly ride?

If the moon obeys my orders, sure I can command the

tide.

1. Jewish captain; i.e., Joshua. (See Book of Joshua, chap. x.)

"Will the advancing waves obey me, Bishop, if I make the sign?"

Said the Bishop, bowing lowly, "Land and sea, my lord, are thine."

Canute turned towards the ocean. "Back!" he said, "thou foaming brine!

"From the sacred shore I stand on, I command thee to retreat;

Venture not, thou stormy rebel, to approach thy master's

seat:

Qcean, be thou still! I bid thee come not nearer to my feet!"

But the sullen ocean answered with a louder, deeper

roar;

And the rapid waves drew nearer, falling, sounding on the shore:

Back the Keeper and the Bishop, back the King and courtiers, bore.

And he sternly bade them nevermore to bow to human

clay,

But alone to praise and worship That which earth and seas obey;

And his golden crown1 of empire never wore he from that day.

THACKERAY.

1 golden crown. The chronicler | his crown, but he put it on the already referred to says, "Now from head of the image of our Lord in that day would not King Cnut wear the Old Minster at Winchester."