“The wolves had gnawed him flesh and bone;
His harp was lying in the snow.
’Tis full ten weary years agone.”
“Oh,” cried the steward, “dost thou know
That was my lord, Sir Orfeo!
Alas! now am I all forlorn.
My lord is lost! ah, me is woe!
Ah, would that I had ne’er been born!”
His harp was lying in the snow.
’Tis full ten weary years agone.”
“Oh,” cried the steward, “dost thou know
That was my lord, Sir Orfeo!
Alas! now am I all forlorn.
My lord is lost! ah, me is woe!
Ah, would that I had ne’er been born!”
He fell a-swooning to the ground;
His barons caught him up again,
And sought to heal his woeful wound,
And give him comfort in his pain,
But still he mourned, for all was vain.
And when Sir Orfeo well knew
His steward’s love had not a stain,
He rose, and spake, and nearer drew,
His barons caught him up again,
And sought to heal his woeful wound,
And give him comfort in his pain,
But still he mourned, for all was vain.
And when Sir Orfeo well knew
His steward’s love had not a stain,
He rose, and spake, and nearer drew,
“Sir steward, hearken now and hear:
If I were Orfeo the king,
If I were Orfeo the king,
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