THE PRINCESS; A MEDLEY. 15 I. A PRINCE I was, blue-eyed, and fair in face, There lived an ancient legend in our house. And, truly, waking dreams were, more or less, Myself too had weird seizures, Heaven knows what: On a sudden in the midst of men and day, And while I walk'd and talk'd as heretofore, I seem'd to move among a world of ghosts, Our great court-Galen poised his gilt-head cane, To lash offence, and with long arms and hands Now it chanced that I had been, While life was yet in bud and blade, betroth'd At eight years old; and still from time to time Came murmurs of her beauty from the South, And still I wore her picture by my heart, And one dark tress; and all around them both Sweet thoughts would swarm as bees about their queen. But when the days drew nigh that I should wed, My father sent ambassadors with furs And jewels, gifts, to fetch her: these brought back That morning in the presence room I stood With Cyril and with Florian, my two friends: C The first, a gentleman of broken means (His father's fault) but given to starts and bursts Of revel; and the last, my other heart, And almost my half-self, for still we moved Together, twinn'd as horse's ear and eye. Now, while they spake, I saw my father's face. And bring her in a whirlwind: then he chew'd At last I spoke. My father, let me go. Whom all men rate as kind and hospitable: Whate'er my grief to find her less than fame, May rue the bargain made.' And Florian said: 'I have a sister at the foreign court, Who moves about the Princess; she, you know, Who wedded with a nobleman from thence: He, dying lately, left her, as I hear, The lady of three castles in that land: Thro' her this matter might be sifted clean.' And Cyril whisper'd: Take me with you too.' Then laughing' what, if these weird seizures come Upon you in those lands, and no one near Take me: I'll serve you better in a strait; I grate on rusty hinges here:' but No!' Will crush her pretty maiden fancies dead In iron gauntlets: break the council up.' |