THE HOUSE OF JOY [Illustration] [Illustration: THE HOUSE OF JOY BY LAURENCE HOUSMAN 1895 LONDON: KEGAN PAUL TRENCH TRÜBNER & CO.] CONTENTS THE PRINCE WITH THE NINE SORROWS _Page_ 1 THE LUCK OF THE ROSES 23 THE WHITE KING 35 THE STORY OF THE HERONS 51 SYRINGA 85 THE TRAVELLER’S SHOES 101 THE MOON-FLOWER 135 HAPPY RETURNS 169 THE PRINCE WITH THE NINE SORROWS _TO_ CLARE AND IDA [Illustration] THE PRINCE WITH THE NINE SORROWS _Eight-white peahens went down to the gate:_ _“Wait!” they said, “little sister, wait!”_ _They covered her up with feathers so fine;_ _And none went out, when there went back nine._ A long time ago there lived a King and a Queen, who had an only son. As soon as he was born his mother gave him to the forester’s wife to be nursed; for she herself had to wear her crown all day and had no time for nursing. The forester’s wife had just given birth to a little daughter of her own; but she loved both children equally and nursed them together like twins. One night the Queen had a dream that made the half of her hair turn grey. She dreamed that she saw the Prince her son at the age of twenty lying dead with a wound over the place of his heart; and near him his foster-sister was standing, with a royal crown on her head, and his heart bleeding between her hands. The next morning the Queen sent in great haste for the family Fairy, and told her of the dream. The Fairy said, “This can have but one meaning, and it is an evil one. There is some danger that threatens your son’s life in his twentieth year, and his foster-sister is to be the cause of it; also, it seems she is to make herself Queen. But leave her to me, and I will avert the evil chance; for the dream coming beforehand shows that the Fates mean that he should be saved.” The Queen said, “Do anything; only do not destroy the forester’s wife’s child, for as yet at least, she has done no wrong. Let her only be carried away to a safe place and made secure and treated well. I will not have my son’s happiness grow out of another one’s grave.” The Fairy said, “Nothing is so safe as a grave when the Fates are awake. Still, I think I can make everything quite safe within reason, and leave you a clean as well as a quiet conscience.” The little Prince and the forester’s daughter grew up together till they were a year old; then, one day, when their nurse came to look for them, the Prince was found, but his foster-sister was lost; and though the search for her was long, she was never seen again, nor could any trace of her be found.