Page:King's daughter.pdf/4

4 Sir Alfred has entered thothe [sic] royal hall

’Midst a thousand nobles in rich array;

But he who was once more gay than all,

Has never, I ween, one word to say.

The king sat high on his royal throne,

Though his hairs were grey, his arm was strong,

“Good cousin,” he said, in a jocund tone,

“Is it thou or thy steed that has stay’d so long?

“But it boots not now—Bring forth the bride!

Thou hast never yet my daughter seen;

A woeful fate it is thine to bide,

For her hair is red and her eyes are green!

The bridobride [sic] came forth in a costly veil,

And nought of her face could Alfred see;

But his cheek grew yet more deadly pale,

And he fell down faltering upon his knee:

“Pardon! pardon! my liege, my king!

And let me speak whilowhile [sic] I yet am free;

But were she fair as the flowers of spring,

To your daughter I never can husband be.”

Lightning flash’d from the king’s fierce eye,

And thunder spoke in his angry tone,—

“Then the death of a traitor thou shalt die,

And thy marriage peal shall be torture’s moan!”

“I never fear’d to die, Sir King,

But my plighted faith I fear to break;

I novornever [sic] fear’d the grave’s deep rest,

But the pangs of conscience I fear to wake.”