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And she placed their price in the old man's hand, and lightly turned away,—
But she paused at the wanderer's earnest call,—'My gentle lady, stay!'
'Oh, lady fair, I have yet a gem which a purer lustre flings
Than the diamond flash of the jewelled crown on the lofty brow of kings—
A wonderful pearl of exceeding price whose virtue shall not decay,
Whose light shall be as a spell to thee, and a blessing on thy way!'
The lady glanced at the mirroring steel where her form of grace was seen,
Where her eye shone clear, and her dark locks waved their clasping pearls between;
Bring forth thy pearl of exceeding worth, thou traveller gray and old—
And name the price of thy precious gem, and my pages shall count thy gold.
The cloud went off from the pilgrim's brow, as a small and meagre book,
Unchased with gold or diamond gem, from his folding robe he took:
Here, lady fair, is the pearl of price—may it prove as such to thee!
Nay—keep thy gold—I ask it not, for the word of God is free!
