little roland.
189
"The best of servants, to my mind,
The dame's must surely be:
She is, I wot, the beggar's Queen,
Who keeps a table free.
The dame's must surely be:
She is, I wot, the beggar's Queen,
Who keeps a table free.
"The noble lady should not far
From my royal palace be:
Arise, three ladies, and three lords!
And bring her in to me."
From my royal palace be:
Arise, three ladies, and three lords!
And bring her in to me."
Little Roland, holding fast the cup,
From the splendid hall he hies:
To follow him, at the king's command,
Three lords, three ladies, rise.
From the splendid hall he hies:
To follow him, at the king's command,
Three lords, three ladies, rise.
And after now a little while,
The king sees, far away,
The noble ladies and the knights
Return without delay.
The king sees, far away,
The noble ladies and the knights
Return without delay.
The king he cries out suddenly,—
"Help, Heav'n! see I aright?
'T is my own blood, in open hall,
I have treated with cruel slight.
"Help, Heav'n! see I aright?
'T is my own blood, in open hall,
I have treated with cruel slight.
"Help, Heav'n! in pilgrim dress I see
My sister Bertha stand;
So pale in my gay palace here,
A beggar's staff in her hand!"
My sister Bertha stand;
So pale in my gay palace here,
A beggar's staff in her hand!"
