The Miller of the Dee
By Charles Mackay
There dwelt a miller hale and bold
Beside the river Dee;
He worked and sang from morn till night,
No lark more blithe than he;
And this the burden of his song
Forever used to be,—
“I envy nobody; no, not I,
And nobody envies me!”
“Thou’rt wrong, my friend!” said good King Hal;
“Thou’rt wrong as wrong can be;
For could my heart be light as thine,
I’d gladly change with thee.
And tell me now, what makes thee sing,
With voice so loud and free,
While I am sad, though I’m the king,
Beside the river Dee.”
The miller smiled and doffed his cap:
“I earn my bread,” quoth he;
“I love my wife, I love my friend,
I love my children three;
I owe no penny I cannot pay;
I thank the river Dee,
That turns the mill that grinds the corn,
To feed my babes and me.”
“Good friend,” said Hal, and sighed the while,
“Farewell! and happy be;
But say no more, if thou’dst be true,
That no one envies thee.
Thy mealy cap is worth my crown,
Thy mill my kingdom’s fee;
Such men as thou are England’s boast,
Oh miller of the Dee!”
DEFINITIONS:—Hale, hearty, strong. Blithe, happy. Quoth, said. Fee, wealth, possession.