University of Virginia Library


161

THE RING OF FASTRADA

The little ring your hand doth show
Is the same ring Fastrada wore,
Wife of the Great Charles, long ago—
Whose charm could bind him evermore.
O dearest, gentlest, sweetest, best!
Whose eyes of starry tenderness
So many happy years have blessed,
So many more I pray shall bless:
The world-old Magic-Master brought
You the same ring—if not the same,
The self-same charm in this he wrought
Which gave to that romantic fame.