One day at school a tale we read,

A tale that was quite true, they said,

And when I walk or pray or sit,

To eat, I often think of it.

Once lived a king in times of old,

Who laid aside his crown of gold,

And left his throne and royal state,

To see his subjects, poor or great.

In sadhu's robe of saffron hue,

He wandered all the city through,

Or, robed in merchantman's attire,

He watched the seller and the buyer.

He saw the cheat outwit the fool,

The wretch who was a villain's tool;

He heard the pleading cry that rose,

from slaves fast-shackled by their woes.

He saw the mother who would give

Her life-blood that her child might live,

The needy beggar who would speed

To help a friend in greater need.

He saw that love could conquer all,

And make a palace of a stall;

Yea, as he passed through street and mart,

He felt the city's throbbing heart.

Then back he went, and from that time,

He ruled with knowledge more sublime,

With milder justice, though more keen:

But scarce one knew where he had been.

This take we read, and you will see,

What made a wonder-world for me;

For now I feel, at work or play,

A king may meet me any day!

1. hue: colour
2. minstrels: singers, musicians of medieval times who wandered from place to place, singing their stories.
3. outwit: deceive someone by being cleverer than them
4. saffron: orange-yellow colour, a spice used in cooking
5. shackled: imprisoned- a pair of rings connected by a chain used to fasten the prisoner's wrists or ankles together
6. stall: cowshed or a stable
7. sublime: noble; lofty; great
8. scarce one knew: no one was aware of
9. through more keen: through more eager, interested or enthusiastic
10. (villian's) tool: a person who is used unjustly by a wicked person.