THE GIFT OF EMPTY HANDS.A FAIRY TALE.
They were two princes doomed to death;
Each loved his beauty and his breath:
"Leave us our life, and we will bring
Fair gifts unto our lord, the King."
Each loved his beauty and his breath:
"Leave us our life, and we will bring
Fair gifts unto our lord, the King."
They went together. In the dew
A charméd bird before them flew.
Through sun and thorn one followed it;
Upon the other's arm it lit.
A charméd bird before them flew.
Through sun and thorn one followed it;
Upon the other's arm it lit.
A rose, whose faintest flush was worth
All buds that ever blew on earth,
One climbed the rocks to reach; ah! well,
Into the other's breast it fell
All buds that ever blew on earth,
One climbed the rocks to reach; ah! well,
Into the other's breast it fell
Weird jewels, such as fairies wear,
When moons go out, to light their hair,
One tried to touch on ghostly ground;
Gems of quick fire the other found.
When moons go out, to light their hair,
One tried to touch on ghostly ground;
Gems of quick fire the other found.
