King Hilary and the Beggarman

This a passage from King Hilary and the Beggarman by A.A. Milne. We read it today in school and I had Lillie copy it into her notebook. It is a wonderful example of Milne's mastery of the English language. 

And very fun to read out loud. 

Good King Hilary
Looked at the beggarman,
       And laughed him three times three;
And he turned that beggarman round about:
"Your thews are strong, and your arm is stout;
Come, throw me a Lord High Chancellor out,
      And take his place," quoth he.

Of Hilary the Good and Great
Old wives at Christmas time relate
This tale, which points, at any rate,
      Two morals on the way.

The first: "Whatever Fortune brings, 
Don't be afraid of doing things."
(Especially, of course, for Kings.)
      It also seems to say
(But not so wisely): "He who begs
With one red stocking on his legs
Will be, as sure as eggs are eggs, 
      A Chancellor some day."

I found this vintage print by E.H. Shepard for sale on Etsy.