The king was pleased and sat full still,
Right gladly did he hear the glee;
The lovely queen with right good will
Joyed in the lovely melody.
And when it ceased at last, “Thy fee,”
The king exclaimed, “for, harper mine,
I love thy tender minstrelsy:
Ask what thou wilt, and it is thine;
Right gladly did he hear the glee;
The lovely queen with right good will
Joyed in the lovely melody.
And when it ceased at last, “Thy fee,”
The king exclaimed, “for, harper mine,
I love thy tender minstrelsy:
Ask what thou wilt, and it is thine;
“Largess I proffer for thy task;
Speak now, what shall I give to thee?”
“Sir,” answered he, “one thing I ask;
This—that thou wilt bestow on me
The lady ’neath the orchard-tree
A-slumbering in grasses deep.”
“Nay,” quoth the king, “that cannot be;
A sorry couple ye would keep.
Speak now, what shall I give to thee?”
“Sir,” answered he, “one thing I ask;
This—that thou wilt bestow on me
The lady ’neath the orchard-tree
A-slumbering in grasses deep.”
“Nay,” quoth the king, “that cannot be;
A sorry couple ye would keep.
“For thou art rough, and foul, and lean,
But lovely as a rose is she.
'Twere lothly thing to let a queen
Be partner of thy company.”
But lovely as a rose is she.
'Twere lothly thing to let a queen
Be partner of thy company.”
[ 24 ]
