A STORY OF OLDEN TIME.
33
Small speech has passed between us yet, small guerdon hast thou shared
Of thanks as yet for all that thou for me hast done and dared;
But One shall thank thee, for I wot that on my lady's 'hest
(A gentle lady, true and kind I) thou earnest on this quest.
Yet tell me now, where foundest thou the strength, and where the skill
To win at me, to set me free,—so young, so tender still?"
Then answered faint and low the Page, as one that strives to speak
In spite of very feebleness: "Thou seest I am weak;
So took I twain for counsellors that have been held from old
More strong than any under heaven, and one of them was Gold."
Of thanks as yet for all that thou for me hast done and dared;
But One shall thank thee, for I wot that on my lady's 'hest
(A gentle lady, true and kind I) thou earnest on this quest.
Yet tell me now, where foundest thou the strength, and where the skill
To win at me, to set me free,—so young, so tender still?"
Then answered faint and low the Page, as one that strives to speak
In spite of very feebleness: "Thou seest I am weak;
So took I twain for counsellors that have been held from old
More strong than any under heaven, and one of them was Gold."
Long thoughtful paused the Knight, but not above the Page's word
That fell perchance upon his ear (so deep he mused) unheard.
Then spake he: "When at first I heard thy sweet, low-warbled song,
That night by night came floating light around my dungeon strong,—
That fell perchance upon his ear (so deep he mused) unheard.
Then spake he: "When at first I heard thy sweet, low-warbled song,
That night by night came floating light around my dungeon strong,—
