King Cole

King Cole by John Masefield is a poem about the fair king of the United Kingdom during a prosperous time, before the dark days. Excerpt: «King Cole was King before the troubles came, The land was happy while he held the helm, The valley-land from Condicote to Thame, Watered by the Thames and green with many an elm. For many a year he governed well his realm, So well-beloved, that, when at last he died, It was bereavement to the countryside. So good, so well-beloved, had he been In life, that when he reached the judging place (There where the scales are even, the sword keen), The Acquitting Judges granted him a grace…»