The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-19
Thr Tnn1hstnt1p
HERE LIES MANS ANCIENT ENKsrT.
DILL CARE
VINO pIsrSrKEs rn UNLovKD cJsA
kEWAnkt
JAsvER AND GRENDA.

JANVER AND GRENDA.
Janver who overthrow both Bran and Gran
In Wenster's lists and won the coal-black horse
Riding his trophy homeward stopped before
King Clavock's castle and blew upon ms horn.
With creaks the drawbridge dropped and Janyer
crossed
And came to Clavock, who stood welcoming him,
And Princess Grenda, who stood by Clavock
side.
Wandering minstrels sang in mobiles halls
OF Princess Grendas beauty, of her hands.
Which, slender, white and fragile as two
flowers.
Drove singers to distraction. They ransacked
The universe to find some phrase to tell
More passionately the beauty of her hands;
And, failing, sang more passionately STILL
lCIayocl, commanded that a feast be made,
That wine be preached, that sheep and oxen be
killed
In Janver's honor. Three hundred noblemen
Gathered to eat and drink and shout his praise.
Far in the night the wine cup was passed rouno'
Great roasts were carved, a minstrel sang in
praise
OF Janver's bravery, of the loneliness
OF Princess Grenda, and of Clavock's knowl-
edge.
The fool gay in a motley of green and white.
Gamboled among the followers OF the court,
Taking his toll of mirth and silver coins.
But there was levity only along
The lower board: Upon the high dais
The king sat with his daughter and his guest
In company with the councillors of state;
And there was dignified discussion of
These high affairs upon which wise Old men
Love to debate.
But Janyer, as the talk
Ranged on through treaties, craftsmanship and
wars,
Drew himself out of it increasingly
And silently from underneath brows which
But feigned to drUop, beheld with growing joy
The beauty of Grenda. And, as he gazed, her
hands,
Slender and white and fragile two flowers,
Seemed to hold all the focus of her charms.
He saw two slender white hands frai as flowers,
Only two hands, and loved for those alone.
Janver fingered fortnight at the court
To profit, he said, from discourse with
King Clavock and the wise men of the realm
But he spent little time in the council room,
Where the old men droned over their old books.
Rather, he walked with Grenda in the garden;
And all his passion for her hands and her
Laid siege to her indifference and failed.
For Grenda, knowing little of the world
And ways of lovers, and knowing not love
herself,
Gave only straying answers to his suit,
Until one day his passion broke all bounds
And falling down before her he cried in pain,
"Ah, princess, in thy GOODNESS, nay, not that,
But rather love of better things than l.
Take thou some heed of my great love for thee.
Nay, do not turn. A slave do no harm
Say only that you love me; care not
Whether you love. My love is great enough
To serve for both"
The princess sighed, and
loath
Further to hurt one hurt by love already.
Paused, knowing in spite of pity she could not
DiSsemble passion that she did not feel.
Il know that you would honor me-" she said,
But 1 cannot return love so great
And knowing this l cannot say l love
And, therefore, 1 must pray that you depart
And speak more of this. 1t will be best
".
So Janver left the castle of King Clavock
And fingered in a village close at hand
And brooded on his love for Grenda till
That love became a fercely burning lust
Reason and soul destroying, for her hands;
Not for pure love, not for her body even,
But only for her fragile, hower-like hands
V.
One midnight then he slipped out from the inn
Swung astride his horse which stood before the