Page:The Queens Court Manuscript with Other Ancient Bohemian Poems, 1852, Cambridge edition.djvu/41

 'Twas quiet in our country long,
 * Long bloom’d a peaceful age,

When from the east a storm arose,
 * Amongst the lands to rage.

It was the daughter of the Khan,
 * The Khan of Tatary,

By Christian hands did for her gold,
 * Her pearls and jewels, die.

The daughter bright of Kublay Khan,
 * Fair as the moon was she,

Had heard of countries in the west,
 * Where many people be;

And she the foreign countries will
 * And foreign manners see.

Of youths upstarts there half-a -score,
 * Of waiting-maidens twain;

And soon as packages prepar’d
 * The needful things contain,

Upon swift steeds they seat themselves
 * And westward turn the rein.

As rosy bright the morning dawn
 * O’er misty woods doth gleam,

So did the daughter of the Khan
 * From art and nature beam.

In gold brocade the maiden shone,
 * Bosom and neck were bare,