The Miller of the Dee

There dwelt a miller hale and bold,
Beside the river Dee;
He work'd and sang from morn to night,
No lark more blithe than he;
And this the burden of his song
For ever used to be, —
"I envy nobody: no, not I,
And nobody envies me!"

"Thou'rt wrong, my friend!" said old 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 doff'd 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 sigh'd 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,
O miller of the Dee!"