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James T. Fields: Diogenes

The name of this fellow was Diogenes.

And this is the story; it happened one day That a wonderful king came riding that way; Said he, to the man in the tub, "How d'ye do?

I'm Great Alexander; now, pray, who are you?"

O, yes, to be clean you must rub, you must rub !

Though he lived and he slept and ate in a tub, This singular man, in towns where he halted, History tells us was greatly exalted.

He rose in his tub: "I am Diogenes." "Dear me," quoth the king, who'd been over the seas, "I've heard of you often; now, what can I do To aid such a wise individual as you?"

Could one expect manners, I ask, as I rub, From a man quite content to live in a tub? "Get out of my sunlight," growled Diogenes To this affable king who'd been o'er the seas.