Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/296

282 The King then raised his arms, as if he blest The youth who lay there seeming dead and cold; Then took the globe and oped it, and behold! Within it, bedded in the carven case, There lay a precious thing for that rude race To hold, though it as God they seemed to prize,— A Pearl of purest hue and wondrous size! And as the sunbeams kissed it, from the dead The dusk King looked, and o'er his snowy head With both long hands he raised the enthroned gem. And turned him toward the strangers: e'en on them Before the lovely Thing, an awe did fall To see that worship deep and mystical, That King with upraised god, like rev'rent priest With elevated Host at Christian feast.

Then to the mother turning slow, the King Took out the Pearl, and laid the beauteous Thing Upon the dead boy's mouth and brow and breast,