263
"Such beauty, and such virtue shine upon her,
They, even the palace of a prince will honor:
None, none but she shall grace my marriage bed,
No other maiden in the world I'll wed."
So when the dawning, when the earliest dawn
Had driven away the darkness—and the power
Of daylight had that canopy withdrawn,
Hung o'er east's golden gates at morning hour—
"Know'st thou the desolate village—hasten thither,
And bring in fascinating maiden hither—
Milota! speed thee, speed thee on thy way,
And tarry not a moment night or day.
"Speed thee—I bid thee speed; and say the prince—
The prince himself will wed th' unparallel'd:
Fly for the god-like child—fly swiftly—since
Till thou return I am in misery held.
Take thou this ring—I charge thee not to linger—
This princely ring, and place it on her finger;
And bring her swiftly to the castle gates,
Where welcome, with her marriage song, awaits."
