"At break of dawn was Alain at the King's palace, Presenting him with Merlin's ring. Stupefied the King did stand; And all who stood near him declared: 'Lo, how, after all, this young peasant Won the daughter of our Sire!' 'It is true,' the King to Alain did say, 'But still there is one thing I now ask of you, And it will be the last. Do you that, And my daughter you'll have, And with her the glorious kingdom of Leon.' 'What must I do, Sire?' 'To my court bring Merlin, Your wedding to sing with my daughter Linor.'" "My God!" interrupted the little shepherdess, more and more carried away with the marvelousness of the story, "how will it end?" "While Alain was at the King's palace, His grandmother saw Merlin go by; Merlin the Enchanter went by her house. 'Whence, Merlin, come you with your clothes all in rags Whither thus bare-headed and bare-footed go you? Whither, old Merlin, with your holly staff go you?' 'Alack! Alack! I'm looking for my harp, My heart's only solace in all this broad world. I'm looking for my harp and also for my ring, Which both I lost, or they have been stolen from me.' "'Merlin, Merlin, do not grieve! Your harp is not lost, and neither is your ring. Walk in, Merlin, walk in, Take rest and food.' 'I shall neither eat nor rest in this world Till I've recovered my harp and my ring. They have not been stolen, I've lost them, the two.' 'Merlin, walk in, your harp will be found.-- Merlin, walk in, your ring will be found.' So hard the grandmother begged That Merlin entered her hut. "When in the evening Alain returned to his house, He trembled with a great fear when, On casting his eyes towards the hearth, He there saw Merlin the Enchanter, Who was seated, his head on his breast reclining. Alain knew not whither to flee. "'Fear not, my lad, fear not. Merlin sleeps a slumber profound. He has eaten three apples, three red ones, Which I in the embers have baked. Now he'll follow wherever we go. We'll lead him towards the palace Of our Sire, the King!'" "And did Merlin go, god-mother?" "'What has happened in town, that I hear such a noise?' Said the next day the Queen to the servant; 'What has happened at court, that the crowd Are cheering so joyfully?' 'Madam, the whole town is having a feast. Merlin is entering the town with an old, A very old woman, dressed in white, The grandmother she of the lad who is your daughter to marry. Aye, Madam the Queen.'