The king’s avenging sword pursued and sealed his fate.

The signet-ring of power once more on royal hand,

The demons and the fairies flocked to his command.

Mankind came crowding to his court, by levee swelled;

Among them came the youth who’d that opinion held.125

He saw the signet-ring. This sufficed. Doubt was past.

No room was left for surmise. All was clear at last.

Opinion may be formed of what’s behind a veil.

Conjecture lends its aid where knowledge ’gins to fail.

Conjecture’s potent when the subject’s hid from view.