Straight to the castle then they go,
And all the lords sat down to meat;
Trumpets and tabours blare and blow;
Gleemen and crowders sang full sweet.
And all the lords sat down to meat;
Trumpets and tabours blare and blow;
Gleemen and crowders sang full sweet.
And much of melody they had,
But Orfeo heard it silently.
When all was still, the steward bade
Him take his harp and sing his glee.
He touched it soft, and melody
Sweeter than ever tongue can tell,
Delighted all that company.
The steward heard and marked it well.
But Orfeo heard it silently.
When all was still, the steward bade
Him take his harp and sing his glee.
He touched it soft, and melody
Sweeter than ever tongue can tell,
Delighted all that company.
The steward heard and marked it well.
He knew the harp, and said, “Say now,
Minstrel, as thou hast fear of Hell,
Where gottest thou thy harp, and how?
I: pray thee haste and quickly tell!”
“Lord,” quoth he, “in a desert fell
As I was wandering one morn,
I found within a dismal dell
A corse by angry lions torn.
Minstrel, as thou hast fear of Hell,
Where gottest thou thy harp, and how?
I: pray thee haste and quickly tell!”
“Lord,” quoth he, “in a desert fell
As I was wandering one morn,
I found within a dismal dell
A corse by angry lions torn.
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