"Three times shall a young foot-page Swim the stream and climb the mountain And kneel down beside my feet—~ 'Lo, my master sends this gage, Lady, for thy pity's counting! What wilt thou exchange for it?' "And the first time I will send A white rosebud for a guerdon, And the second time, a glove;' 65 But the third time-I may bend 70 From my pride, and answer-' Pardon, If he comes to take my love.' "Then the young foot-page will run, Then my lover will ride faster, Till he kneeleth at my knee: 'I am a duke's eldest son, Thousand serfs do call me master, But, O Love, I love but thee!' "He will kiss me on the mouth Then, and lead me as a lover 75 Through the crowds that praise his deeds; And, when soul-tied by one troth, Unto him I will discover That swan's nest among the reeds." Little Ellie, with her smile Not yet ended, rose up gaily, 80 85 Tied the bonnet, donned the shoe, Pushing through the elm-tree copse, Ellie went home sad and slow. She could never show him-never, Elizabeth Barrett Browning. 90 95 100 1844. THE FAIRIES Up the airy mountain, 8 Down along the rocky shore Some make their home, Of the black mountain-lake, High on the hill-top The old King sits; He is now so old and gray On his stately journeys From Slieveleague to Rosses; On cold starry nights, 16 To sup with the Queen Of the gay Northern Lights. 28 They stole little Bridget For seven years long; They took her lightly back, They thought that she was fast asleep They have kept her ever since By the craggy hill-side, Through the mosses bare, As dig them up in spite, He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night. Up the airy mountain, 40 48 And white owl's feather! 56 1877 William Allingham. LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI O WHAT can ail thee, knight-at-arms, The sedge has wither'd from the lake, And no birds sing. O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms ! And the harvest's done. I see a lily on thy brow With anguish moist and fever dew, I met a lady in the meads, Full beautiful-a faery's child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, I made a garland for her head, 12 16 And bracelets too, and fragrant zone; She look'd at me as she did love, And made sweet moan. I set her on my pacing steed, And nothing else saw all day long. For sidelong would she bend, and sing A faery song. She found me roots of relish sweet, And honey wild, and manna dew, And sure in language strange she said"I love thee true." 20 24 28 |