"And when no tidings he could learn He vow'd thenceforth within his court "Now Heaven is kind!" the lady said, "But, madam," said Sir Valentine, And knelt upon his knee, "Know you the cloak that wrapp'd your babe, If you the same should see? And pulling forth the cloth of gold But by his pious care revived, "But who's this youth?" she wond'ring said; "He much resembles thee: The bear devour'd my younger son, "Madam, this youth with bears was bred, And rear'd within their den: But recollect ye any mark To know your son agen?" Upon his little side," quoth she, "Was stamp'd a bloody rose." Then clasping both her new-found sons, What pen can paint King Pepin's joy, And soon a messenger was sent Who came in haste, with all his peers, To them Sir Ursine did succeed, THE BARON AND THE MAIDEN OF LOW DEGREE. THE baron sat on his castle wall, The wardens blew their sounding horns, The baron he sighed as he looked above, Up, then, came his ancient nurse That had borne him on her knee "And why dost thou sigh, thou noble youth, At a sight so fair to see?" Oh! then, up spake that noble baron, "But I've never a true and faithful wife "And if I should marry a courtly dame, my But she would not care for me.' lands, Oh! then, up spake that ancient nurse, If you'd have a true wife, then go and find "And be disguised in plain attire, And like a peasant rove, But let her not know thy high degree; So shalt thou prove her love." Then called the baron his young foot-page, Full loudly called he, The bonny foot-page full swiftly ran And knelt him on his knee. "Oh! hark thee well, my young foot-page, To what I tell to thee; And keep thee my secret faithfully, And thou shalt have gold and fee. "Go bring me here a peasant's coat, And artfully disguise my face, "And when I go, and when I come, But keep my secret faithfully, And thou shalt have gold and fee." The sunbeam gilt the distant hills, The early pilgrim blithe he hail'd, And blithe and merrily did he wend, Until he came to a rural cot, Where a maiden fair did bide. Though lowly and unknown to fame, Sweet was the melody of her voice So sweet, that thrushes on the spray But more than all, her youthful heart The maiden stood at her cottage gate And she saw the blithesome stranger youth And lo! with many a fond excuse And soon her sighs and blushes told For where's the heart that can resist F "Lo! I've a cottage, and I've a cow, And many sheep beside; And I've a field of ripening corn; The listening damsel heard his vows, And oft her mother heard the tale, "And if thou canst keep her, stranger youth, The damsel shall be thine." "Ah, then, farewell, my charming fair," The lordling peasant cries, "For I must wend for many a mile Ere I can take a bride." "Oh! say not so, then, stranger youth, For if thou dost go-oh, I shall rue "Yes, I must go, thou charming maid, Though ever until I here return, "But if before I come again, "For death may meet me on the way, And from thy arms divide; Or dire misfortune blast my joys, And 'rive me of my bride.' Oh! then fast flowed the maiden's tears, While tenderly she cried, "Oh! no, dear youth, though thou shouldst die, I'll be no other's bride!" |