Stephen

Matilda claimed the crown
Upon the head of Stephen,
And so they had it up and down
From morning until even;
And now was she the winner –
Matilda ruled the land at tea,
And Stephen ruled at dinner.

Matilda claimed the throne
Her cousin Stephen sat in,
And kept him fighting for his own
From Vesper until matin;
One had the lower hand
When t’other had the upper –
Till none could tell who ruled the land
From breakfast-time to supper.

Farjeon, Eleanor, and Herbert Farjeon. 1933. Kings and queens. New York: Dutton.