Till he came to his ship in Grimsar-oyce. On so fair a day they hoisted sail, The maidens pluck the grapes in glee. In all lands else is love alive, OF THE THREE SEEKERS. ["To-Day" 1884; darauf in "Poems by the Way" 1891.] THERE met three knights on the woodland way, The second was dight in iron and steel, Whither away to win good cheer? "With me," said the first, "for my king is near." So to the King they went their ways; But there was a change of times and days. "What men are ye," the great King said, "That ye should eat my children's bread? My waste has fed full many a store, And mocking and grudge have I gained therefore. Whatever waneth as days wax old, Full worthy to win are goods and gold." Whither away to win good cheer? "With me," said the second, "my knight is near. But there was a change of times and days. When he heard the mouse run in the wall, Bring me no song nor minstrelsy, Round death it babbleth still," said he. "And what is fame and the praise of men, When lost life cometh not again?" Whither away to seek good cheer? "Ah me!" said the third, "that my love were anear! Were the world as little as it is wide, In a happy house should ye abide. So far by high and low have they gone, Full well bedight came riding by; And in the midst, a queen, so' fair, That God wrought well in making her. The first and second knights abode Forth passed the third with head down bent, His shoulder brushed her saddle-bow; He trembled with his head hung low. His hand brushed o'er her golden gown, As on the waste he fell adown. So swift to earth her feet she set, It seemed that there her arms he met. His lips that looked the stone to meet Were on her trembling lips and sweet. Softly she kissed him cheek and chin, His mouth her many tears drank in. "Where would'st thou wander, love," she said, "Now I have drawn thee from the dead?" "I go my ways," he said, "and thine Have nought to do with grief and pine." "All ways are one way now," she said, "Since I have drawn thee from the dead." Said he, "But I must seek again. Where first I met thee in thy pain: I am not clad so fair," said he, "But yet the old hurts thou may'st see. And thou, but for thy gown of gold, A piteous tale of thee were told." "There is no pain on earth," she said, "Since I have drawn thee from the dead." "And parting waiteth for us there,” Said he, "as it was yester-year." "Yet first a space of love," she said, "Since I have drawn thee from the dead." He laughed; said he, "Hast thou a home Where I and these my friends may come?" Laughing, "The world's my home,” she said, "Now I have drawn thee from the dead. Yet somewhere is a space thereof Come, tell my flowery fields," she said, Whither away to win good cheer? "With me," he said, "for my love is here. The wealth of my house it waneth not; No gift it giveth is forgot. No fear my house may enter in, For nought is there that death may win. Now life is little, and death is nought, Since all is found that erst I sought." |