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by (Joseph) Hilaire Belloc (1870 - 1953)

Henry King
 (Sung text for setting by L. Lehmann)
 Matches base text
Language: English 
The Chief Defect of Henry King
Was chewing little bits of String.
At last he swallowed some which tied
Itself in ugly Knots inside.

Physicians of the Utmost Fame
Were called at once; but when they came
They answered, as they took their Fees,
"There is no cure for this disease.

"Henry will very soon be dead."
His Parents stood about his Bed
Lamenting his Untimely Death,
When Henry, with his latest Breath,

Cried - "Oh, my Friends, be warned by me,
That Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch and Tea
Are all the Human Frame requires..."
With that the Wretched Child expires.

Composition:

    Set to music by Liza Lehmann (1862 - 1918), "Henry King", published 1909 [ vocal duet with piano ], from Four Cautionary Tales and a Moral, no. 4

Text Authorship:

  • by (Joseph) Hilaire Belloc (1870 - 1953), "Henry King, Who Chewed Little Bits of String, and Was Early Cut off in Dreadful Agonies", appears in Cautionary Tales, first published 1907

See other settings of this text.


Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

This text was added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.
Line count: 16
Word count: 99

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