Then up and spake the eldest daughter, Thereafter spake the second daughter, And a gold comb for my head." Then came the turn of the least daughter, That was whiter than thistle-down, And among the gold of her blithesome hair Dim shone the golden crown. "There came a bird this morning, And sang 'neath my bower eaves, Till I dreamed, as his music made me, 'Ask thou for the Singing Leaves." Then the brow of the King swelled crimson With a flush of angry scorn: "Well have ye spoken, my two eldest, And chosen as ye were born; "But she, like a thing of peasant race, That is happy binding the sheaves Then he saw her dead mother in her face, ; II. He mounted and rode three days and nights Till he came to Vanity Fair, And 't was easy to buy the gems and the silk, But no Singing Leaves were there. Then deep in the greenwood rode he, But the trees all kept their counsel, Only the pattering aspen Made a sound of growing rain, |“O, where shall I find a little foot-page That would win both hose and shoon, And will bring to me the Singing Leaves If they grow under the moon?" Then lightly turned him Walter the page, By the stirrup as he ran : "Now pledge you me the truesome word Of a king and gentleman, "That you will give me the first, first You meet at your castle-gate, Or mine be a traitor's fate." The King's head dropt upon his breast Then Walter took from next his heart The Singing Leaves are therein." III. And said, "Thou shalt have thy As the King rode in at his castle-gate, leaves." A maiden to meet him ran, And " Welcome, father!" she laughed | And all the mint and anise that I pay and cried But swells my debt and deepens my self-blame. Together, the Princess Anne. "Lo, here the Singing Leaves," quoth he, "And woe, but they cost me dear!" She took the packet, and the smile Deepened down beneath the tear. It deepened down till it reached her heart, And then gushed up again, And the first Leaf, when it was opened, And the second Leaf sang: "But in the That is neither on earth or sea, My lute and I are lords of more Than thrice this kingdom's fee." And the third Leaf sang, "Be mine! "Be mine!" And ever it sang, "Be mine!" At the first Leaf she grew pale enough, "Good counsel gave the bird," said she, "I have my hope thrice o'er, For they sing to my very heart," she said, "And it sings to them evermore." She brought to him her beauty and truth, But and broad earldoms three, And he made her queen of the broader lands He held of his lute in fee. SEA-WEED. NOT always unimpeded can I pray, Nor, pitying saint, thine intercession claim; Too closely clings the burden of the day, |