Collected Poems of Henry Derozio: Preface by Manu Samriti Chander; Edited by Amardeep Singh

Anecdote of Francis I

"As soon as Francis entered his own dominions, he mounted a Turkish horse, and clapping spurs to the animal’s sides, he waved his hand several times, exclaiming. 'I am again a king.'" --Thurtle's History of France 

I 

His hand on high he proudly waved. 
   His steed shot o'er the plain. 
And loud exultingly he cried, 
   "I am a king again!" 

II 

His white plume nodded o'er his brow. 
   His eye flashed vivid fire. 
His heart leapt up; what was he now? 
   All that he could desire 

III 

Before him, all was fairest France; 
   Behind, his dungeon, Spain; 
Above him was the light of hope. 
   And he was king again. 

IV

A king again, a king again!
   What joy was in his breast!
Possessing all that e'ever his heart
   Could wish to have possessed.
 
V.

But late a captive in his cell,
   Now broken was his chain;
What were his feelings when he cried,
   'I am a king again!"

May 1827. 

This page has paths: