Classic Poem

There rode upon a morning
A knight across the lea,
Of his lady many a warning
And anxious thought had he.

" My little trusty ring of gold
From care can set me free;
In thee my loved one's pledge I hold;
How stands her constancy? "

Now while he looks upon the ring,
It flies from off his hand,
It rolls and bounds with many a spring
Across the meadow land.

The ring a falcon spieth
From off a linden tree;
And downward swiftly flieth,
The ring on high lifts he.

On mighty plumes his way doth take
In the free air to swing,
His brothers follow in his wake
To seize the little ring.

But none can win the little ring,
It drops adown the sky,
The knight he watch't it falling
On the deep sea silently.

The fish are gaily dancing
To seize the golden prize,
But down the ring is glancing
Beyond the reach of eyes.

" Oh little ring, in meadows fair
The flowers drew thee aside,
Oh little ring, in the blue air
The birds behind thee glide.

" Oh little ring, from ocean's spring
Thou draw'st the fish above,
I fear thou tellest, little ring,
Strange news of her I love! "