'I have been in a good land,' Quoth the king: 'O sweet sleep bland, Blessed! I am grown to more, Now the doing of right hath moved Me to love of right, and proved If one doth it, he shall be Twice the man he was before. Verily and verily, Thou fair woman, thou didst well; I look back and scarce may tell Those false days of tinsel sheen, Flattery, feasting, that have been. Shows of life that were but shows, How they held me; being I ween Like sand-pictures thin, that rose Quivering, when our thirsty bands Marched i' the hot Egyptian lands; Shade of palms on a thick green plot, Pools of water that was not, Mocking us and melting away. XXIX. I have been a witch's prey, Art mine enemy now by day, Thou fell Fear? There comes an end To the day; thou canst not wend After me where I shall fare, My foredoomèd peace to share. And awake with a better heart, I shall meet thee and take my part O' the dull world's dull spite; with thine Hard will I strive for me and mine.' XXX. A page and a palfrey pacing nigh, Malva the queen awakes. A sigh-- One amazèd moment--'Ay, We remember yesterday, Let us to the palace straight: What! do all my ladies wait-- Is no zeal to find me? What! No knights forth to meet the king; Due observance, is it forgot?' XXXI. 'Lady,' quoth the page, 'I bring Evil news. Sir king, I say, My good lord of yesterday, Evil news,' This king saith low, 'Yesterday, and yesterday, The queen's yesterday we know, Tell us thine.' 'Sir king,' saith he, Hear. Thy castle in the night Was surprised, and men thy flight Learned but then; thine enemy Of old days, our new king, reigns; And sith thou wert not at pains To forbid it, hear also, Marvelling whereto this should grow How thy knights at break of morn Have a new allegiance sworn, And the men-at-arms rejoice, And the people give their voice For the conqueror. I, Sir king, Rest thine only friend. I bring Means of flight; now therefore fly, A great price is on thy head. Cast her jewel'd mantle by, Mount thy queen i' the selle and hie (Sith disguise ye need, and bread) Down yon pleachèd track, down, down, Till a tower shall on thee frown; Him that holds it show this ring: So farewell, my lord the king.' XXXII. Had one marked that palfrey led To the tower, he sooth had said, These are royal folk and rare-- Jewels in her plaited hair Shine not clearer than her eyes, And her lord in goodly wise With his plumèd cap in 's hand Moves in the measure of command. XXXIII. Had one marked where stole forth two From the friendly tower anew, 'Common folk' he sooth had said, Making for the mountain track. Common, common, man and maid, Clad in russet, and of kind Meet for russet. On his back A wallet bears the stalwart hind; She, all shy, in rustic grace Steps beside her man apace, And wild roses match her face. XXXIV.