Within the palace were two lately come, Sisters in blood, in age the same, and fair To look upon as sunlight on gold waves Of crinkling wheat. Not yet Queen Margaret Was 'ware that they were of her retinue, And therefore was it that Ban saw them first. Ban the King, array'd as for the chase, Was passing hastily to palace hall, To join his knights and squires who stay'd him there, When sudden music checkt his kingly haste, And leaning from a window that o'erlookt The palace court, he saw the sisters twain At work and singing, like the birds, for joy. It is the little tear that smiles confute, That soon or late makes lovers' voices mute, Yet ever gathering surely saddens all. It is the little tear no smiles refute, Or fleeting smiles of joy all destitute, That in the heart's life surely saddens all.
Dear love is richest when 'tis all in all.
The song was ended and the maids arose, And rising turn'd, and turning saw the King. Then on the cheek of either flusht the white To red that slowly pal'd again to white, And flee they might not, rooted there by fear. No word spake Margaret, but with a hand Made hard by anger smote the maids on arm And shoulder, and full harshly drave them forth From palace doors, and all in dole they went. And question'd of their grief, and so drew forth In fragments, marr'd with many sobs and tears, Their woful tale. And gave thereafter counsel they should bide Nigh to the palace till the queen had ruth.