The Romance of the Swan’s Nest

Lyrics

I. Little Ellie sits alone         'Mid the beeches of a meadow,                 By a stream-side on the grass, And the trees are showering down         Doubles of their leaves in shadow                 On her shining hair and face. II. She has thrown her bonnet by,         And her feet she has been dipping                 In the shallow water's flow: Now she holds them nakedly         In her hands, all sleek and dripping,                 While she rocketh to and fro. III. Little Ellie sits alone,         And the smile she softly uses                 Fills the silence like a speech While she thinks what shall be done,         And the sweetest pleasure chooses                 For her future within reach. IV. Little Ellie in her smile         Chooses—"I will have a lover                 Riding on a steed of steeds: He shall love me without guile,         And to him I will discover                 The swan's nest among the reeds. V. "And the steed shall be red-roan,         And the lover shall be noble,                 With an eye that takes the breath: And the lute he plays upon         Shall strike ladies into trouble,                 As his sword strikes men to death. VI. "And the steed it shall be shod         All in silver, housed in azure,                 And the mane shall swim the wind; And the hoofs along the sod         Shall flash onward and keep measure,                 Till the shepherds look behind. VII. "But my lover will not prize         All the glory that he rides in,                 When he gazes in my face: He will say, 'O Love, thine eyes         Build the shrine my soul abides in,                 And I kneel here for thy grace!' VIII. "Then, ay, then he shall kneel low,         With the red-roan steed anear him                 Which shall seem to understand, Till I answer, 'Rise and go!         For the world must love and fear him                 Whom I gift with heart and hand.' IX. "Then he will arise so pale,         I shall feel my own lips tremble                 With a yes I must not say, Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,'         I will utter, and dissemble—                 'Light to-morrow with to-day!' X. "Then he'll ride among the hills         To the wide world past the river,                 There to put away all wrong; To make straight distorted wills,         And to empty the broad quiver                 Which the wicked bear along. XI. "Three times shall a young foot-page         Swim the stream and climb the mountain                 And kneel down beside my feet— 'Lo, my master sends this gage,         Lady, for thy pity's counting!                 What wilt thou exchange for it?' XII. "And the first time I will send         A white rosebud for a guerdon,                 And the second time, a glove; But the third time—I may bend         From my pride, and answer—'Pardon                 If he comes to take my love.' XIII. "Then the young foot-page will run,         Then my lover will ride faster,                 Till he kneeleth at my knee: 'I am a duke's eldest son,         Thousand serfs do call me master,                 But, O Love, I love but thee!' XIV. "He will kiss me on the mouth         Then, and lead me as a lover                 Through the crowds that praise his deeds; And, when soul-tied by one troth,         Unto him I will discover                 That swan's nest among the reeds." XV. Little Ellie, with her smile         Not yet ended, rose up gaily,                 Tied the bonnet, donned the shoe, And went homeward, round a mile,         Just to see, as she did daily,                 What more eggs were with the two. XVI. Pushing through the elm-tree copse,         Winding up the stream, light-hearted,                 Where the osier pathway leads, Past the boughs she stoops—and stops.         Lo, the wild swan had deserted,                 And a rat had gnawed the reeds! XVII. Ellie went home sad and slow.         If she found the lover ever,                 With his red-roan steed of steeds, Sooth I know not; but I know         She could never show him—never,                 That swan's nest among the reeds!