THE BLAMELESS PRINCE
And with such gentle tact he bore a sense
Of conduct due, nor took nor gave offence,
That, as time went, he earned their trust, who first
Withheld it him, and brought them, one by one,
To seek him for a comrade; but he nursed
His friendships with such equal care that none
Could claim him as their own; nor was his word
Of counsel dulled by being often heard;
Nor would he sully his fresh youth among
The roisterers and pretty wanton dames
Who strove to win him; nor with ribald tongue
Joined in the talk that round a palace flames;
Nor came and went alone, save—'t was his wont
In his own land—he haply left the hunt
On forest days, and, plunging down the wood,
There in the brakes and copses half forgot
The part he bore, and caught anew the mood
Of youth, and felt a heart for any lot;
Then, loitering cityward behind the train,
With fresher courage took his place again.
His pure life made the wits about the court
Find in its very blamelessness a fault
That lacked the generous failings of their sort.
"With so much sweet," they swore, "a grain of salt
Were welcome! lighter tongue and freer mood
Were something more of man, if less of prude!"
And others to his praises would oppose
Suspicion of his prowess, and they said,
"Our rose of princes is a thornless rose,
A woman's toy!" and, when the months were sped,
And the glad Queen was childed with a son,
Light jests upon his mission well begun
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