High and Low

He stumbled home from Clifdon fair
With drunken song, and cheeks aglow.
Yet there was something in his air
That told of kingship long ago.
I sighed - and inly cried
With grief that one so high should fall so low.

He snatched a flower and sniffed its scent,
And waved it toward the sunset sky.
Some old sweet rapture through him went
And kindled in his bloodshot eye.
I turned - and inly burned
With joy that one so low should rise so high.