Had called thy son his rites to guide:

Those rites are o'er, the steed is slain;

Thy noble child is come again.”

Soon as the saint that speech had heard

His spirit with desire was stirred

To seek the city of the king

And to his cot his son to bring.

With young disciples at his side

Forth on his way the hermit hied,

While peasants from their hamlets ran