How Lisa Loved the King | Page 6

more bravely where your emblem is:?Nor will we claim from you an added bliss?To our sweet thoughts of you save one sole kiss.?But there still rests the outward honor meet?To mark your worthiness; and we entreat?That you will turn your ear to proffered vows?Of one who loves you, and would be your spouse?We must not wrong yourself and Sicily?By letting all your blooming years pass by?Unmated: you will give the world its due?From beauteous maiden, and become a matron true."
{King and Lisa: p42.jpg}
Then Lisa, wrapt in virgin wonderment?At her ambitious love's complete content,?Which left no further good for her to seek?Than love's obedience, said, with accent meek,--?"Monsignor, I know well that were it known?To all the world how high my love had flown,?There would be few who would not deem me mad,?Or say my mind the falsest image had?Of my condition and your loftiness.?But Heaven has seen that for no moment's space?Have I forgotten you to be the king,?Or me myself to be a lowly thing--?A little lark, enamoured of the sky,?That soared to sing, to break its breast, and die.?But, as you better know than I, the heart?In choosing chooseth not its own desert,?But that great merit which attracteth it:?'Tis law, I struggled, but I must submit,?And having seen a worth all worth above,?I loved you, love you, and shall always love.?But that doth mean, my will is ever yours,?Not only when your will my good insures,?But if it wrought me what the world calls harm:?Fire, wounds, would wear from your dear will a charm.?That you will be my knight is full content,?And for that kiss,--I pray, first, for the queen's consent." Her answer, given with such firm gentleness,?Pleased the queen well, and made her hold no less?Of Lisa's merit than the king had held.?And so, all cloudy threats of grief dispelled,?There was betrothal made that very morn?'Twixt Perdicone, youthful, brave, well-born,?And Lisa whom he loved; she loving well?The lot that from obedience befell.?The queen a rare betrothal ring on each?Bestowed, and other gems, with gracious speech.?And, that no joy might lack, the king, who knew?The youth was poor, gave him rich Ceffalu?And Cataletta,--large and fruitful lands,--?Adding much promise when he joined their hands.?At last he said to Lisa, with an air?Gallant yet noble, "Now we claim our share?From your sweet love, a share which is not small;?For in the sacrament one crumb is all."?Then, taking her small face his hands between,?He kissed her on the brow with kiss serene,--?Fit seal to that pure vision her young soul had seen.
And many witnessed that King Pedro kept?His royal promise. Perdicone stept?To many honors honorably won,?Living with Lisa in true union.?Throughout his life, the king still took delight?To call himself fair Lisa's faithful knight;?And never wore in field or tournament?A scarf or emblem, save by Lisa sent.?Such deeds made subjects loyal in that land;?They joyed that one so worthy to command,?So chivalrous and gentle, had become?The king of Sicily, and filled the room?Of Frenchmen, who abused the Church's trust,?Till, in a righteous vengeance on their lust,?Messina rose, with God, and with the dagger's thrust.
L'ENVOI.
Reader, this story pleased me long ago?In the bright pages of Boccaccio;?And where the author of a good we know,?Let us not fail to pay the grateful thanks we owe.
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