How Lisa Loved the King | Page 5

married: that were little woe,?Since she has counted barely fifteen years;?But all such hopes of late have turned to fears;?She droops and fades, though, for a space quite brief,--?Scarce three hours past,--she finds some strange relief."?The king avised: "'Twere dole to all of us,?The world should lose a maid so beauteous:?Let me now see her; since I am her liege lord,?Her spirits must wage war with death at my strong word."?In such half-serious playfulness, he wends,?With Lisa's father and two chosen friends,?Up to the chamber where she pillowed sits,?Watching the door that opening admits?A presence as much better than her dreams,?As happiness than any longing seems.?The king advanced, and, with a reverent kiss?Upon her hand, said, "Lady, what is this??You, whose sweet youth should others' solace be,?Pierce all our hearts, languishing piteously.?We pray you, for the love of us, be cheered,?Nor be too reckless of that life, endeared?To us who know your passing worthiness,?And count your blooming life as part of our life's bliss."
Those words, that touch upon her hand from him?Whom her soul worshipped, as far seraphim?Worship the distant glory, brought some shame?Quivering upon her cheek, yet thrilled her frame?With such deep joy she seemed in paradise,?In wondering gladness, and in dumb surprise,?That bliss could be so blissful. Then she spoke:?"Signor, I was too weak to bear the yoke,?The golden yoke, of thoughts too great for me;?That was the ground of my infirmity.?But now I pray your grace to have belief?That I shall soon be well, nor any more cause grief."
The king alone perceived the covert sense?Of all her words, which made one evidence,?With her pure voice and candid loveliness,?That he had lost much honor, honoring less?That message of her passionate distress.?He staid beside her for a little while,?With gentle looks and speech, until a smile?As placid as a ray of early morn?On opening flower-cups o'er her lips was borne?When he had left her, and the tidings spread?Through all the town, how he had visited?The Tuscan trader's daughter, who was sick,?Men said it was a royal deed, and catholic.
And Lisa? She no longer wished for death;?But as a poet, who sweet verses saith?Within his soul, and joys in music there,?Nor seeks another heaven, nor can bear?Disturbing pleasures, so was she content,?Breathing the life of grateful sentiment.?She thought no maid betrothed could be more blest;?For treasure must be valued by the test?Of highest excellence and rarity,?And her dear joy was best as best could be:?There seemed no other crown to her delight,?Now the high loved one saw her love aright.?Thus her soul thriving on that exquisite mood,?Spread like the May-time all its beauteous good?O'er the soft bloom of neck and arms and cheek,?And strengthened the sweet body, once so weak,?Until she rose and walked, and, like a bird?With sweetly rippling throat, she made her spring joys heard.
The king, when he the happy change had seen,?Trusted the ear of Constance, his fair queen,?With Lisa's innocent secret, and conferred?How they should jointly, by their deed and word,?Honor this maiden's love, which, like the prayer?Of loyal hermits, never thought to share?In what it gave. The queen had that chief grace?Of womanhood, a heart that can embrace?All goodness in another woman's form;?And that same day, ere the sun lay too warm?On southern terraces, a messenger?Informed Bernardo that the royal pair?Would straightway visit him, and celebrate?Their gladness at his daughter's happier state,?Which they were fain to see. Soon came the king?On horseback, with his barons, heralding?The advent of the queen in courtly state;?And all, descending at the garden gate,?Streamed with their feathers, velvet, and brocade,?Through the pleached alleys, till they, pausing, made?A lake of splendor 'mid the aloes gray;?When, meekly facing all their proud array,?The white-robed Lisa with her parents stood,?As some white dove before the gorgeous brood?Of dapple-breasted birds born by the Colchian flood.?The king and queen, by gracious looks and speech,?Encourage her, and thus their courtiers teach?How, this fair morning, they may courtliest be,?By making Lisa pass it happily.?And soon the ladies and the barons all?Draw her by turns, as at a festival?Made for her sake, to easy, gay discourse,?And compliment with looks and smiles enforce;?A joyous hum is heard the gardens round;?Soon there is Spanish dancing, and the sound?Of minstrel's song, and autumn fruits are pluckt;?Till mindfully the king and queen conduct?Lisa apart to where a trellised shade?Made pleasant resting. Then King Pedro said,--?"Excellent maiden, that rich gift of love?Your heart hath made us hath a worth above?All royal treasures, nor is fitly met?Save when the grateful memory of deep debt?Lies still behind the outward honors done:?And as a sign that no oblivion?Shall overflood that faithful memory,?We while we live your cavalier will be;?Nor will we ever arm ourselves for fight,?Whether for struggle dire, or brief delight?Of warlike feigning, but we first will take?The colors you ordain, and for your sake?Charge the