If so, know your accuser's dead, And dying own'd his crime; And long your lord hath sought you out Thro' every foreign clime. And when no tidings he could learn Of his much wronged wife, He vow'd thenceforth within his court To lead a hermit's life. Now heaven is kind! the lady said; And dropped a joyful tear: Shall I once more behold my lord? That lord I love so dear? But, madam, said sir Valentine, And knelt upon his knee; Know you the cloak that wrapt your babe, If you the same should see? And pulling forth the cloth of gold, In which himself was found; The lady gave a sudden shriek, And fainted on the ground. But by his pious care reviv'd, His tale she heard anon; And soon by other tokens found, He was indeed her son. But who's this hairy youth? she said; He much resembles thee: The bear devour'd my younger son, Or sure that son were he. Madam, this youth with bears was bred, And rear'd within their den. But recollect ye any mark To know your son again? Upon his little side, quoth she, Was stamped a bloody rose. Here, lady, see the crimson mark Upon his body grows! Then clasping both her new-found sons She bath'd their cheeks with tears: And soon towards her brother's court Her joyful course she steers. What pen can paint king Pepin's joy, His sister thus restor'd! And soon a messenger was sent To cheer her drooping lord: Who came in haste with all his peers, To fetch her home to Greece; Where many happy years they reign'd In perfect love and peace. To them sir Ursine did succeed, And long the sceptre bear. Sir Valentine he stay'd in France, And was his uncle's heir. FOOTNOTES: [132] _i.e._ A lake that served for a moat to a castle. THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD. PART THE FIRST. Henry, our royal king, would ride a hunting To the green forest, so pleasant and fair; To see the harts skipping, and dainty does tripping: Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repair: Hawk and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd For the game, in the same, with good regard. All a long summer's day rode the king pleasantly, With all his princes and nobles each one; Chasing the hart and hind, and the buck gallantly, Till the dark evening forc'd all to turn home. Then at last, riding fast, he had lost quite All his lords in the wood, late in the night. Wandering thus wearily, all alone, up and down, With a rude miller he met at the last: Asking the ready way unto fair Nottingham; Sir, quoth the miller, I mean not to jest, Yet I think, what I think, sooth for to say, You do not lightly ride out of your way.