Page:The princess; a medley (IA princessmedley00tennrich).pdf/64

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THE PRINCESS;
The river as it narrow'd to the hills.
 I rode beside her and to me she said:'O friend, we trust that you esteem'd us notToo harsh to your companion yestermorn;Unwillingly we spake.' 'No—not to her,'I answer'd, 'but to one of whom we spakeYour Highness might have seem'd the thing you say.''Again?' she cried 'are you ambassadressesFrom him to me? we give you, being strange,A license: speak, and let the topic die.'
 I stammer'd that I knew him—could have wish'd—'Our king expects—was there no precontract—There is no truer-hearted—ah, you seemAll he prefigured, and he could not seeThe bird of passage flying south but long'dTo follow: surely, if your Highness keepYour purport, you will shock him ev'n to death,Or baser courses, children of despair.'
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