"Back to thy Prince's halls depart,
The stateliest of his stately train:
Henceforth thy wish shall be thy mine—
Each toy that gold can purchase, thine—
A fairy's coffers are the heart
A mortal cannot drain."
"Talk not of wealth—that dream is o'er!—
These sunny looks be all my gold!"
"Nay! if in courts thy thoughts can stray
Along the fairy-forest way,
Wish but to see thy bride once more—
Thy bride thou shalt behold.
"Yet hear the law on which must rest
Thy union with thine elfin bride;
If ever by a word—a tone—
Thou mak'st our tender secret known,
The spell will vanish from thy breast—
The Fairy from thy side.
"If thou but boast to mortal ear
The meanest charm thou find'st in me,
If"—here his lips the sweet lips seal,
Low-murmuring, "Love can ne'er reveal—
It cannot breathe to mortal ear
The charms it finds in thee!"
PART III.
High joust, by Carduel's ancient town,
The Kingly Arthur holds to-day;
Around their Queen; in glittering row,
The Starry Hosts of Beauty glow.
Smile down, ye stars, on his renown
Who bears the wreath away!
O chiefs who gird the Table Round—
O war-gems of that wondrous ring!—
Where lives the man to match the might
That lifts to song your meanest knight,
Who sees, preside on Glory's ground,
His Lady and his King?
What prince as from some throne afar,
Shines onward—shining up the throng?
Broider'd with pearls, his mantle's fold
Flows o'er the mail emboss'd with gold;
As rides, from cloud to cloud, a star,
The Bright One rode along!
Twice fifty stalwart Squires, in air
The stranger's knightly pennon bore;
Twice fifty Pages, pacing slow,
Scatter his largess as they go;
Calm through the crowd he pass'd, and, there,
Rein'd in the Lists before.
Light question in those elder days
The heralds made of birth and name.
Enough to wear the spurs of gold,
To share the pastime of the bold.
"Forwards!" their wands the Heralds raise,
And in the Lists he came.