Verses and Rhymes By the Way Part 13

Said the lily maiden weeping, "'Twere well we had never met, Go, my Prince, to be with princes, Be happy, and so forget."

Said the Prince of Anhalt Dessau: "What's to be G.o.d keeps in store; I am Prince of Anhalt Dessau, But your lover for evermore.

"Duty is the yoke of princes, It is good I go away; For that widow's son there's blessing, Who his mother can obey.

"But we who are ruling princes, Should be patterns of faith and truth, The Prince thou hast loved, my lily, Shall never deceive thy youth.

"For as sure as to the ocean Arrow-swift flows on the Rhine, I go for my mother's pleasure, I am coming back for thine."

A year past--the waiting-women Said: "Our Prince is back again,"

And he shows before the Empire, That his mother's plans are vain.

He came from the courts of Europe, He came to his mother's knee; But first went to the market-place, The maiden he loved to see.

Said the Princess, "Son, you're welcome, Anhalt Dessau's hope and pride; Have you well and wisely chosen For Dessau a high-born bride?"

"I saw many royal beauties, Dames courtly and fair and kind, But with married eyes I saw them, For my heart was left behind."

Said the lady to her council: "So our plans have failed thus far, He'll forget his low-born chosen When he learns to look on war.

"While he's gone I'll seek to rid me Of the beauty which I dread, I will give a precious dower To him who shall woo and wed."

Said the Doctor to his daughter: "Here's a life of wealth and ease, And a fair bridegroom too, daughter, For we must our Princess please."

"Ah me!" said the lily maiden, "That I am the cause of strife!

Woeful is the gift of beauty-- I'll be an unwilling wife.

"I have no strength for the battle, No more than a wounded dove; O Leopold Anhalt Dessau, Where art thou, my only love?"

With a moan of helpless sorrow, From the bridegroom turned her face, And saw a gallant troop of horse Drawn up in the market-place.

A strong arm is soon around her, Young Dessau is by her side, "Draw and defend yourself, you wretch!

Who would dare to claim my bride."

Then he stood before his mother, With a stern and angry face; "I have stopped a gallant wedding, Begun in the market-place.

"The maid thou wouldst give in marriage, Is mine by her plighted word; And his blood who would supplant me, Has reddened on my good sword.

"Be a queen in Anhalt Dessau, Let tower and town be thine; But leave unto me my treasure, This fair low-born love of mine.

"She's my first love and my last one, And never we two shall part; I'll take her--with rites most holy I will bind her to my heart."

Now the holy words are spoken, At the young Dessau's command.

He wedded the lily maiden, And he gave her his left hand.

"What's to be," said Anhalt Dessau, "Is known but to G.o.d above, But I have obeyed my mother, Been true to my early love.

"Now must I go to the battle, Leave mother and bride behind; My wife, be a child to my mother, Mother, to my love be kind.

"A soldier's life is uncertain, Let us sternly do our best, Love and duty be our watchword, And leave to our G.o.d the rest."

And thus the high Prince of Dessau, While giving obedience due To his gracious lady mother, To his own first love was true.

He is gone away to battle, He's always in high command; As a man of vast resources, Who is as the king's right hand.

Drilling, battling, planning, seiging, The bravest of all the brave; The wisest of all in counsel, Loyal, courteous, kind and grave.

This was in the time of battles, Battles for the native land; Whatever was in safe keeping, Was held by the strong right hand.

Anhalt Dessau, bold and daring, Anhalt Dessau wise and slow, With a brain full of expedients, To subdue or outwit the foe.

In each conflict still to conquer, In each counsel wiser grown, Till he stood above his fellows, A supporter of the throne.

Till the king in council chamber, Said: "My lords we must devise New honours for Anhalt Dessau, My general brave and wise.

"Leopold of Anhalt Dessau, First in counsel, first in fight, What high reward you choose to name Is yours by undoubted right."

"My Liege, to have served my country And King till the strife is o'er, To be Sovereign Prince of Dessau, Is so much that I ask no more.

"Nought for me but that I labour For my country all my life, If you wish to do me honour, Make a princess of my wife.

"I married her with my left hand, For she was of low degree, I'd wed her with my right--with both, For so dear is she to me."

"We will make thy wife a princess."

Said the King with kindling brow, "G.o.d grant she may bring to Dessau, Many sons so brave as thou.

"You are Sovereign Prince of Dessau By the right of princely birth, She is Sovereign Queen of Beauty, As fair as there walks the earth.

"She's fairest, and you the bravest, With love for a joining band, Shall rank equal with the n.o.blest That walks in our Fatherland."

Tears pa.s.sed over Anhalt Dessau, And sprinkled his locks with snow, He had wealth, success and honours, And his share of human woe.

His fair wife and his goodly sons Filled his heart with joy and pride; But that heart was wrung with sorrow, When his only daughter died.

For ah! she was long in dying, And his love was strong and warm; To keep her from an early grave, He'd have given his right arm.

She was a most winsome maiden, And she had her mother's face; She brought back all his wooing time, His love in the market place.

"My daughter," he said, "you're dying, You are fading fast away; What is there you would have me do, Love, before your dying day."

"Thou the kindest and the bravest, My father most dear!" she said, "Whate'er you've done has pleased me, Take that comfort when I'm dead.

"But if you would do me pleasure,"

She said with a lovely smile, "The men whom you've led in battle, Poor fellows! the rank and file.