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little roland.
"Go to the city, Roland, go!
To beg us meat and bread;
And whoso gives the smallest gift,
Ask blessings on his head."
To beg us meat and bread;
And whoso gives the smallest gift,
Ask blessings on his head."
Now great King Charles at table sat,
In the golden hall of state:
With dish and cup the servants ran,
On the noble guests to wait.
In the golden hall of state:
With dish and cup the servants ran,
On the noble guests to wait.
Flute, harp, and minstrelsy now tune
All hearts to joyful mood:
The cheerful music does not reach
To Bertha's solitude.
All hearts to joyful mood:
The cheerful music does not reach
To Bertha's solitude.
Before the hall in the court-yard sat
Of beggars a motley throng:
The meat and drink was more to them
Than flute, and harp, and song.
Of beggars a motley throng:
The meat and drink was more to them
Than flute, and harp, and song.
The king looked out through the open door,
Upon the beggar throng:
Through the crowd he saw a noble boy,
Pushing his way along.
Upon the beggar throng:
Through the crowd he saw a noble boy,
Pushing his way along.
Strange was the little fellow's dress;
Of divers colors all:
But with the beggars he would not stay;
He looked up at the hall.
Of divers colors all:
But with the beggars he would not stay;
He looked up at the hall.
