Poems (Hooper)/The Two Kings

by Lucy Hamilton Hooper

THE TWO KINGS.

Zwei Konige sassen auf Orkadal.

Two kings sat stately at Orcadal;
Bright flamed the torch in the pillared hall.

The harpers sang. Bright sparkled the wine;
The kings looked darkly into its shine.

Then spoke one: "Give thou to me the girl
With azure eyes and with brow of pearl."

The other answer'd, with angry scorn,
"She's mine, and I'll keep her; so I've sworn!"

The kings spoke never another word;
Each one arose, and each took his sword.

And forth from the lighted hall they go;
Deep by the castle wall lies the snow.

Out flash their swords, and the lights die all;
Two kings have fallen at Orcadal.
Geibel.