Abdication

"Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown." If men who are obscure and quiet and tempted to envy the glory of kings they might profitably meditate on the speech that Shakespeare puts into the mouth of Richard II while he abandons his crown:

I give this heavy weight from off my head

And this unwieldy scepter from my hand,

The pride of kingly sway from out my heart;

With mine own tears I wash away my value,

With mine own hands I give away my

crown.

With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,

With mine own breath release all duteous

oaths.

• The Cradle, the Cross and the Crown
• The Crown Of Life
• Crown Him With Many Crowns