This Too

In a distant land lived a mighty king And he asked his men for a magic ring That could serve him in both his misery and joy And so his servants searched, they searched far and wide But no such ring did the servants find They had given up, they were out of time and hope 'Til seeking solace in a wise man, They were delivered from their terrible task How the servants' hearts did swoon and sing As the wise man carved into a ring "This too-This too shall pass" So the mighty king was quite satisfied With the wise man's ring, though his foolish pride Wouldn't let the words sink into his mind just yet And as his kingdom grew, so the people cheered And the ring's whisper became hard to hear While the wealth and health and fame kept fear at bay 'Til one bright morning in the courtyard The king was standing to address the mass When the light did fall upon his ring And the king recalled the prophecy "This too-This too shall pass" For not a stone would be left standing And every mountain'd be laid low at last But the king would bow as he greeted death And he'd sing out loud with his fleeting breath "This too-This too shall pass"