The King and Peasant + 

A pleasant tale we now will sing + 

Of an old peasant and the King; + 

The kind Italian King, Humbert, + 

With the gun is a great expert. + 

Peasant with wonder saw the King + 

Bring down the partridges on wing; + 

The peasant he doth sportsman praise, + 

Each shot it filled him with amaze. + 

The King he dearly loves to shoot + 

In plain garb without his suite; + 

He casts aside his Kingly fetters, + 

All his escort are two setters. + 

To farmer he doth chat pleasant + 

About the partridge and the pheasant; + 

He tells the King his chicken flocks + 

Are oft invaded by the fox. + 

And proposal he advances + 

For to give the King two francs, + 

If he the enemy will slay, + 

He cheerfully the sum will pay. + 

But he must come at early morn, + 

For then the fowls from coop are torn; + 

The King he came and shot reynard, + 

And peasant then gave him reward. + 

And he gave the King his breakfast, + 

His majesty enjoyed repast, + 

And kindly chatted to the dame, + 

Forgetting all his rank and fame. + 

Next day a carriage drove to door, + 

With gilt it was all covered o’er; + 

And liveried servant brought present, + 

Both for the wife and the peasant. + 

And now their thoughts do fondly cling + 

Around their kind-hearted King, + 

Who won their hearts while in disguise: + 

The fox he slew they greatly prize. + 

No more lost fowl they do bewail, + 

But glory in the fox fine tail; + 

They love to view him in glass case, + 

So they may cunning features trace. + 

It to them doth pleasure bring, + 

As it reminds them of their King, + 

Who did one morn at break of day. + 

Enemy of their chickens slay. + 