88
THE FAIRY'S GIFT.
And in the fight, with his last breath he sent
The water that his mouth had burned for so
Unto another soldier. Oh, I meant
Sir Philip Sidney? But I did not, though:—
I meant a greater with no name, you know.
The water that his mouth had burned for so
Unto another soldier. Oh, I meant
Sir Philip Sidney? But I did not, though:—
I meant a greater with no name, you know.
The people murmured after he was dead,
Saying, "He helped us. Did the Fairy, then,
Forget to help him?" But a faint voice said,
Out of his mother's lips, "I say again,
Never did Fairy break an oath to men.
Saying, "He helped us. Did the Fairy, then,
Forget to help him?" But a faint voice said,
Out of his mother's lips, "I say again,
Never did Fairy break an oath to men.
"The sweetest gift she promised him—and, oh!
The sweetest gift she gave him upon earth.
Could this be gold or glory? Surely, no;
Your king could tell you what these things are worth,
Shivering to-night beside his lonesome hearth."
The sweetest gift she gave him upon earth.
Could this be gold or glory? Surely, no;
Your king could tell you what these things are worth,
Shivering to-night beside his lonesome hearth."
What can it be, then, if it was not gold,
Nor pearl, nor anything,—you ask of me?
The sweetest thing on earth you cannot hold
Out in your hand for all the world to see.
He hid it in his heart. What could it be?
Nor pearl, nor anything,—you ask of me?
The sweetest thing on earth you cannot hold
Out in your hand for all the world to see.
He hid it in his heart. What could it be?
