Explore "The Speeding of the King's Spite" by James Whitcomb Riley on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A king -- estranged from his loving Queen / By a foolish royal whim -- / Tired and sick of the dull routine / Of matters surrounding him -- / Issued a mandate in this wise. -- / "THE DOWER OF MY DAUGHTER'S HAND / I WILL GIVE TO HIM WHO HOLDS THIS PRIZE, / THE STRANGEST THING IN THE LAND."
But the King, sad sooth! in this grim decree / Had a motive low and mean; -- / 'Twas a royal piece of chicanery / To harry and spite the Queen; / For King though he was, and beyond compare, / He had ruled all things save one -- / Then blamed the Queen that his only heir / Was a daughter -- not a son.