Page:"The Mummy" Volume 3.djvu/212

 that she felt gratified that it should even be supposed he wished to please her, and, addressing the minstrel more graciously, asked what brought him to England. He sung his reply:

Full often in my native land I've struck my lute with bolder hand; But with the liberties of Greece, Her minstrel's harmony must cease. Since Iwan with a soldier's frown Hath seized and worn th' imperial crown, Those hearts which spurn despotic power Must wander from their native bower, And in far distant lands must try The meaner arts of palmistry. Give then your hand, fair lady! give, And let the wandering minstrel live: So shall he tell the varied fate That may that lovely form await. To other strains his voice is mute; Broken his heart, unstrung his lute!"

"What say you, ladies," said Rosabella, again smiling, "shall we hear our destiny?"

The ladies, delighted at any thing that promised an interruption to the general gloom which hung over Rosabella's court, gladly assented; and, to Clara's infinite surprise, the Mummy addressed a few doggrel verses to each.