The Romaunt of the Page.
"The trustiest, loving'st, and the gentlest boy,
That ever master had."
Beaumont and Fletcher.
That ever master had."
Beaumont and Fletcher.
A knight of gallant deeds,
And a young page at his side,
From the holy war in Palestine,
Did slow and thoughtful ride,—
As each were a palmer, and told for beads,
The dews of the eventide.
And a young page at his side,
From the holy war in Palestine,
Did slow and thoughtful ride,—
As each were a palmer, and told for beads,
The dews of the eventide.
"O young page," said the knight,
"A noble page art thou!
Thou fearest not to steep in blood
The curls upon thy brow;
And once in the tent, and twice in the fight,
Didst ward me a mortal blow "—
"A noble page art thou!
Thou fearest not to steep in blood
The curls upon thy brow;
And once in the tent, and twice in the fight,
Didst ward me a mortal blow "—
"O brave knight," said the page,
"Or ere we hither came,
We talked in tent, we talked in field,
Of the bloody battle-game:
But here, below this greenwood bough,
I cannot speak the same.
"Or ere we hither came,
We talked in tent, we talked in field,
Of the bloody battle-game:
But here, below this greenwood bough,
I cannot speak the same.
"Our troop is far behind,
The woodland calm is new;
Our steeds, with slow grass-muffled hoofs,
Tread deep the shadows through:
And in my mind, some blessing kind
Is dropping with the dew.
The woodland calm is new;
Our steeds, with slow grass-muffled hoofs,
Tread deep the shadows through:
And in my mind, some blessing kind
Is dropping with the dew.
