Classic Poem

Within his shop a goldsmith stood
'Mid pearls and jewels clear:
" The fairest gem that ere I viewed
Art thou, my lovely Helen,
Mine only daughter dear! "

In came a knight in garments gay:
" Good morrow, maiden fair!
My worthy goldsmith too, good day!
Make me a costly circlet
To deck my bride's dark hair. "

And when the circlet fair was wrought
And gleamed with many a charm,
Then Helen, lost in mournful thought,
Within her lonely chamber
'Gan hang it round her arm.

" Ah! wondrous glad the bride will be
That shall this circlet wear!
Ah! would the knight but send to me
A fragrant wreath of roses,
My bliss were past compare! "

Again the knight doth thither wend,
The circlet fair he eyed;
" Make me, I pray, my worthy friend,
A ring with diamonds studded,
To deck my lovely bride. "

And when the ring was richly wrought,
Set round with diamonds rare;
Through it the maid, in mournful thought,
Within her lonely chamber
Half thrust her finger fair.

" Ah! wondrous glad the bride will be
That soon this ring shall wear;
Ah! would the knight but send to me
Of his hair one little ringlet,
My joy were past compare! "

Again the knight doth thither wend,
The ring he closely eyed;
" Right well hast thou, my worthy friend,
Made both these pretty presents
To deck my lovely bride.

But now, their due effect to see,
Sweet maiden, grant my prayer!
Let me, I pray, behold on thee
My loved one's bridal presents;
Her form, like thine, is fair. "

'Twas early on a Sunday morn —
Hence was the beauteous maid
In garments but on Sunday worn
When churchward folks are wending,
With special care arrayed.

Before the knight behold her stand
With modest downcast look;
He placed on her the golden band;
Then, drawing on her finger
The ring, her hand he took.

" O Helen sweet, O Helen fair,
The jest is now out-played;
Thou art the bride of beauty rare,
For whom the golden circlet —
For whom the ring was made!

'Mid pearls, and glittering gems, and gold
Thy life did first begin.
A token may'st thou here behold
That thou high rank and honour
One day through me shouldst win! "