 | Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan |  |
86
QUEEN'S ROSES.
Sweet St. Elizabeth, 'tis said,
Once when the beggars would be fed,
All in a fold of her gown's gold
Went carrying them the wheaten bread.
Once when the beggars would be fed,
All in a fold of her gown's gold
Went carrying them the wheaten bread.
But the King met her angrily;
Half-white, half-red with wrath was he,
Stung for her sake, that she should take
The scullion's duty, even she,
Half-white, half-red with wrath was he,
Stung for her sake, that she should take
The scullion's duty, even she,
The sweetest woman under the sun.
He laid both hands her shoulders on;
Looked like a sword, but spake no word
The Queen's tears, gathering, down did run;
He laid both hands her shoulders on;
Looked like a sword, but spake no word
The Queen's tears, gathering, down did run;
Her gown slipped from her trembling hold,
And lo! not bread was in its fold,
Out then there fell, O miracle!
Roses the loveliest, red and gold.
And lo! not bread was in its fold,
Out then there fell, O miracle!
Roses the loveliest, red and gold.
87
Rosès for bread, the story saith:
Some day, O my Elizabeth
You will go down in your gold gown,
And where the crowned King tarrieth:
Some day, O my Elizabeth
You will go down in your gold gown,
And where the crowned King tarrieth:
And in your gold gown's fold shall be
The white bread of your charity;
“Even as you fed the hungerèd,
You did the like to Me,” saith He.
The white bread of your charity;
“Even as you fed the hungerèd,
You did the like to Me,” saith He.
Then your gold gown let down shall show
The loveliest roses ever ablow,
For bread, God's roses white and red,
That in His garden grow a-row;
The loveliest roses ever ablow,
For bread, God's roses white and red,
That in His garden grow a-row;
Roses that take you with their breath.
Yet go not, my Elizabeth.
For while you stay in dark and day
God's Rose lights up this world of death.
Yet go not, my Elizabeth.
For while you stay in dark and day
God's Rose lights up this world of death.
| Ballads and Lyrics by Katharine Tynan | |