Who was cursed with the Sin of Pride, and Became a Boot-Black. <br /> <br />Godolphin Horne was Nobly Born; <br />He held the Human Race in Scorn, <br />And lived with all his Sisters where <br />His father lived, in Berkeley Square. <br />And oh! The Lad was Deathly Proud! <br />He never shook your Hand or Bowed, <br />But merely smirked and nodded thus: <br />How perfectly ridiculous! <br />Alas! That such Affected Tricks <br />Should flourish in a Child of Six! <br />(For such was Young Godolphin's age). <br />Just then, the Court required a Page, <br />Whereat the Lord High Chamberlain <br />(The Kindest and the Best of Men), <br />He went good-naturedly and took <br />A perfectly enormous Book <br />Called People Qualified to Be <br />Attendant on His Majesty, <br />And murmured, as he scanned the list <br />(To see that no one should be missed), <br />"There's William Coutts has got the Flu, <br />And Billy Higgs would never do, <br />And Guy de Vere is far too young, <br />And ... wasn't D'Alton's father hung? <br />And as for Alexander Byng!-... <br />I think I know the kind of thing, <br />A Churchman, cleanly, nobly born, <br />Come, let us say Godolphin Horne?" <br />But hardly had he said the word <br />When Murmurs of Dissent were heard. <br />The King of Iceland's Eldest Son <br />Said, "Thank you! I am taking none!" <br />The Aged Duchess of Athlone <br />Remarked, in her sub-acid tone, <br />"I doubt if He is what we need!" <br />With which the Bishops all agreed; <br />And even Lady Mary Flood <br />(So kind, and oh! So really good) <br />Said, "No! He wouldn't do at all, <br />He'd make us feel a lot too small." <br />The Chamberlain said, "Well, well, well! <br />No doubt you're right. One cannot tell!" <br />He took his Gold and Diamond Pen <br />And scratched Godolphin out again. <br />So now Godolphin is the Boy <br />Who Blacks the Boots at the Savoy.<br /><br />Hilaire Belloc<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/godolphin-horne/
