THE HIGH-BORN LADY
In vain all the knights of the Underwald woo'd
her,
Though brightest of maidens, the proudest
was she;
Brave chieftains they sought, and young minstrels
they sued her,
But worthy were none of the high-born ladye.
"Whomsoever I wed," said this maid, so
excelling,
"That knight must the conqu'ror of con-
querors be;
He must place me in halls fit for monarchs to
dwell in;—
None else shall be Lord of the high-born
ladye!"
Thus spoke the proud damsel, with scorn looking
round her
On knights and on nobles of highest degree,
Who humbly and hopelessly left as they found her,
And worshipp'd at distance the high-born
ladye.
At length came a knight, from a far land to woo
her,
With plumes on his helm like the foam of the
sea;
His vizor was down—but, with voice that thrill'd
through her,
He whisper'd his vows to the high-born ladye.
"Proud maiden! I come with high spousals to
grace thee;
In me the great conqu'ror of conquerors see;
Enthron'd in a hall fit for monarch s I'll place
thee,
And mine thou'st for ever, thou high-born
ladye!"
The maiden she smiled, and in jewels array'd her,
Of thrones and tiaras already dreamed she;
And proud was the step, as her bridegroom
convey'd her
In pomp to his home, of that high-born ladye.
"But whither," she, starting, exclaims, "have
you led me?
Here's nought but a tomb and a dark cypress
tree;
Is this the bright palace in which thou would'st
wed me?"
With scorn in her glance said the high-born
ladye.
"'Tis the home," he replied, "of earth's
loftiest creatures"—
Then lifted his helm for the fair one to see;
But she sunk on the ground—'twas a skeleton's
features,
And Death was the lord of the high-born
ladye!
——T. Moore.