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Fragment: 'I Would Not Be a King'

By Percy Bysshe ShelleySource: Percy Bysshe Shelley - PoetryDB (Public Domain)58 words

I would not be a king--enough

Of woe it is to love;

The path to power is steep and rough,

And tempests reign above.

I would not climb the imperial throne;

'Tis built on ice which fortune's sun

Thaws in the height of noon.

Then farewell, king, yet were I one,

Care would not come so soon.

Would he and I were far away

Keeping flocks on Himalay!

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