The Name of the King

A mighty sovereign did escape
 His enemies of war.
 Not quite two days before.
 Unarmored and on foot across
 The countryside went he,
 And not a soul who saw him would
 Know him for royalty.
 He for the nonce must stay in flight
 Till he'd reclaim his steel.
 But when he rejoined the fight
 They would feel the might of the king.
 They would feel the might of the king.
 As dusk approached, he came upon
 What might have been a farm,
 'Twas in no state for planting,
 But could shelter him from harm.
 The woman there seemed not the sort
 Inclined to take a guest,
 So in their liege's name he begged
 A place that night to rest.
 "Stop, vagabond! Have you no shame?
 I'll not shed you a tear.
 Though my stable's yours to claim,
 I'll not hear the name of the king!
 I'll not hear the name of the king!
 "So eager was our prince to prove
 His fighting father's son,
 He tore this land to shreds, and yet
 The bloodshed's never done.
 "Our farm has failed, like all the rest,
 Since he took up the throne.
 His wars devoured my sons and husband:
 Now I'm here alone."
 She spoke, every word a poisoned dart,
 Bitter, hard, and fierce,
 Without courtesy or art,
 And it pierced the heart of the king.
 And it pierced the heart of the king.
 He slept on straw and bid the widow
 Farewell on the morn.
 And blew the battle-horn.
 "Your Majesty is back! And now,
 To slaughter them we go!"
 "Belay that," said the king, "and call
 A parley with the foe."
 "My liege," said the marshal, "that's absurd!
 You've got them! Why release?"
 "Because my command you've heard!
 Now make peace the word of the king!
 Now make peace the word of the king!"
 He yielded up his conquests,
 Told his generals to disband.
 He sent his soldiers home, poured out
 His coffers to the land.
 No glory earns a king who lays
 His father's sword to rust:
 The nobles and their chroniclers
 Consigned him to the dust.
 But in the countryside, his fame
 The generations cheered:
 Like a bright, enduring flame,
 They revered the name of the king.
 They revered the name of the king.
 They revered the name of the king.