 | The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings |  |
THE KING AND THE BISHOP
“Hush!” said the king,
To the sister hounds at his knee,
“Thor and Woden, quiet be,
While I hear the bishop sing.”
To the sister hounds at his knee,
“Thor and Woden, quiet be,
While I hear the bishop sing.”
O fair to see,
Was the young bishop all robed in silk.
Cheeks red as roses, brow white as milk,
So beautiful was he.
Was the young bishop all robed in silk.
Cheeks red as roses, brow white as milk,
So beautiful was he.
O loud he sang!
His clear voice sweet as a golden flute
Leaped from his lips while the king stood mute,
And the whole air thrilled and rang.
His clear voice sweet as a golden flute
Leaped from his lips while the king stood mute,
And the whole air thrilled and rang.
Like a tuneful fire
Over the monarch and over the hounds
Suddenly swept the lovely sounds,
As from some heavenly choir.
Over the monarch and over the hounds
Suddenly swept the lovely sounds,
As from some heavenly choir.
Said the king, “Well done!
Now by my faith, a voice so pure,
So fresh, melodious, high and sure,
I have not heard, my son.”
Now by my faith, a voice so pure,
So fresh, melodious, high and sure,
I have not heard, my son.”
82
And as he said
From his finger he drew the ruby rare,
“Keep thou this sparkling ring to wear,
And these coins of gold so red.
From his finger he drew the ruby rare,
“Keep thou this sparkling ring to wear,
And these coins of gold so red.
Proud shalt thou be,
Till thou art old and canst no longer sing
Remembering thou didst charm the king,
Who will remember thee.”
Till thou art old and canst no longer sing
Remembering thou didst charm the king,
Who will remember thee.”
| The heavenly guest with other unpublished writings | |