He knew not; but his knee he bent About her beauty, and his passion. And that she warbled like a linnet; And that he loved her, though he ne'er Had looked upon her till that minute. He grieved to mention that a Jew Had seized for debt his grand pavilion; And he had little now, 'twas true, To offer, but a heart and pillion: But what was wealth? In many a fight— Though he, who shouldn't say it, said it— He still had borne him like a knight, And had his share of blows and credit; And if she would but condescend To meet him at the Priest's to-morrow, And be henceforth his guide, his friend, In every toil, in every sorrow, They'd sail instanter from the Downs; His hands just now were quite at leisure; And, if she fancied foreign crowns, He'd win them with the greatest pleasure. “A year is gone”—the damsel sighed, But blushed not, as she so replied"Since one I loved-alas! how well He knew not, knows not-left our dell. Time brings to his deserted cot But his wail or wo is still the theme Of my daily thought and my nightly dream. But her heart is with her minstrel boy." Away from his arms the damsel bounded, "He is welcome,"-o'er his bed, Thus the beauteous Fairy said: "He has conned the lesson now, He has read the book of pain: There are furrows on his brow, I must make it smooth again. "Lo, I knock the spurs away; Lo, I loosen belt and brand; Hark! I hear the courser neigh For his stall in Fairy-land. "Bring the cap, and bring the vest, Buckle on his sandal shoon; Fetch his memory from the chest In the treasury of the Moon. "I have taught him to be wise, For a little maiden's sake;Look, he opens his bright eyes, Softly, slowly-minstrel, wake!" The sun has risen, and Wilfrid is come Which makes his country cousins stare: And he speaks in a strange and courtly phrase, THE TROUBADOUR. Le Troubadour French Ballad. CANTO I. IN sooth it was a glorious day For vassal and for lord, In battle and at board. He was indeed a royal one, A Prince of Paladins ; Hero of triumph and of tun, Of noisy fray and noisy fun, Broad shoulders and broad grins. You might have looked from east to west, A softer tone for lady's ear, A daintier lip for syrup, Or a ruder grasp for axe and spear, A ponderous thing was Richard's can, And so was Richard's boot, So fiddling here, and fighting there, At court, the humor of a king When Richard ruled the roast, Ay! all was laugh, and life, and love; And lips and shrines were kiss'd; And vows were ventured in the grove, And lances in the list; |