KING FRANCIS was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport; and one day, as his lions fought, sat looking on the court. The nobles filled the benches round, the ladies by their side; and amongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed: and truly it was a gallant thing to see that crowning show-valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below.
Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws. They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws. With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another, till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thunderous smother. The bloody foam above the bars came whizzing through the air; said Francis then, "Truth, gentlemen, we are better here than there!"De Lorge"s love o"erheard the king-a beauteous lively dame, with smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same. She thought, "The count, my lover, is as brave as brave can be: he surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me. -King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine! I"ll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine!"She dropped her glove to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled: he bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild. The leap was quick, return was quick; he had regained his place: then threw the glove-but not with love- right in the lady"s face!
"In truth," cried Francis, "rightly done:" and he rose from where he sat. "Not love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that!"- LEIGH HUNTWORDSbeauteous, lovely. divine, heavenly. gallant, splendid. hearty, jovial. moment, instant. occasion, opportunity. quoth, said.
ramped, bounded.
regained, resumed. stifled, smothered. thunderous, noisy. valour, bravery. vanity, idle show.
wallowing, floundering.
wondrous, astonishing.
DESPISED OLD AGE
I HAVE lived long enough: my way of life Is fallen into the sear, the yellow leaf;And that which should accompany old age, As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, I must not look to have; but in their stead,Curses, not loud, but deep,-mouth-honour, breath, Which the poor heart would fain deny, but dare not.
- SHAKESPEARE