 | Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell |  |
155
II.
Beside her well, the Königinn sat combing out her hair,
She combed all with a golden comb the tresses bright and fair;
For rich they say such ladies are: oh, richer far, I ween,
Than dames who stately lead the dance in halls of king and queen!
She combed all with a golden comb the tresses bright and fair;
For rich they say such ladies are: oh, richer far, I ween,
Than dames who stately lead the dance in halls of king and queen!
“How! Art so rash as dare to shake the Fairy's charmed well?
Here take thy choice of these three things, which to thy face I tell:
Wed me at once, upon this spot, or pine for seven long years,
Or die, ere three short days have run their course, in grief and tears.”
Here take thy choice of these three things, which to thy face I tell:
Wed me at once, upon this spot, or pine for seven long years,
Or die, ere three short days have run their course, in grief and tears.”
“With thee I may not, cannot wed, as for a twelvemonth now
A sweet young bride has called me lord, and owns the marriage vow;
Nor shall I pine for seven long years, nor die in three short days,
But when it pleaseth God I shall, in His all-gracious ways.
And yet I'd die contented here, and end at once my life,
All cold outstretched upon my bier, sooner than call thee wife.”
A sweet young bride has called me lord, and owns the marriage vow;
Nor shall I pine for seven long years, nor die in three short days,
But when it pleaseth God I shall, in His all-gracious ways.
And yet I'd die contented here, and end at once my life,
All cold outstretched upon my bier, sooner than call thee wife.”
| Poems Old and New by Charles D. Bell | |