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Home  »  The World’s Wit and Humor  »  The King of Yvetot

The World’s Wit and Humor: An Encyclopedia in 15 Volumes. 1906.

Pierre Jean de Béranger (1780–1857)

The King of Yvetot

From “Songs”

IT was a king of Yvetot,

Whom few historians name;

A sleeper fast, a waker slow,

No dreams had he of fame.

By Betty’s hand with night-cap crown’d,

He snored in state—the whole clock round—

Profound!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

A kingdom match with Yvetot!

Ho! ho!

Four goodly meals a day, within

His palace-walls of mud,

He stow’d beneath his royal skin;

And on an ass—his stud—

In triumph through his realm would jog,

His guard, with vigilance agog—

A dog!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

A kingdom match with Yvetot!

Ho! ho!

No costly regal tastes had he,

Save thirstiness alone;

But ere a people blest can be,

We must support the throne!

So from each cask new tapp’d he got

(His own tax-gath’rer), on the spot,

A pot!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

A kingdom match with Yvetot!

Ho! ho!

So well he pleased the damsels all,

The folks could understand

A hundred reasons him to call

The Father of his Land.

His troops he levied in his park

But twice a year—to hit a mark,

And lark!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

A kingdom match with Yvetot!

Ho! ho!

To stretch his rule he never sought;

No neighbors’ slumbers vexed;

To frame his laws (as good kings ought)

Took pleasure’s code for text.

He never caused his subjects dear

To shed save only on his bier—

A tear!

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

A kingdom match with Yvetot!

Ho! ho!

The portrait of this prince serene,

The greatest of his line,

In Yvetot may still be seen,

His fav’rite beer-shop’s sign!

On holidays the boozing crowd

Shout, pledging deep the relic proud,

Aloud,

Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ho! ho! ho! ho!

He was the king for Yvetot!

Ho! ho!