“Brave servants has the dame, indeed;
      But does strange livery choose,—­
    Made up of colors manifold,
      Shining with rainbow hues.”

    “From each quarter of the city,
      With eight boys I have fought;
    Four sorts of cloth to the conqueror,
      As tribute, they have brought.”

    “The best of servants, to my mind,
      The dame’s must surely be;
    She is, I wot, the beggar’s queen,
      Who keeps a table free.

    “The noble lady should not far
      From my royal palace be;
    Arise, three ladies, and three lords,
      And bring her in to me.”

    Little Roland, holding fast the cup,
      From the splendid hall he hies;
    To follow him, at the king’s command,
      Three lords, three ladies, rise.

    And after now a little while,
      The king sees, far away,
    The noble ladies and the knights
      Return without delay.

    The king he cries out suddenly,—­
      “Help, Heaven! see I aright? 
    ’Tis my own blood, in open hall,
      I have treated with cruel slight.

    “Help, Heaven! in pilgrim dress I see
      My sister Bertha stand;
    So pale in my gay palace here,
      A beggar’s staff in her hand!”

    Lady Bertha sinks down at his feet,
      Pale image of despair;
    His wrath returns, and he looks on her
      With a stern and angry air.

    Lady Bertha quick cast down her eyes,
      No word to speak she tried;
    Little Roland raised his clear blue eyes,—­
      “My uncle!” loud he cried.

    “Rise up, my sister Bertha, rise!”
      The king said tenderly;
    “For the sake of this dear son of thine,
      Thou shalt forgiven be.”

    Lady Bertha rose up joyfully:—­
      “Dear brother! thanks to thee;
    Little Roland shall requite the boon
      Thou hast bestowed on me.

    “He of the glory of his king
      Shall be an image fair;
    The colors of many a foreign realm
      His banner and shield shall bear.

    “The cup from many a royal board
      He shall seize with his free right hand,
    And safety and fresh glory bring
      To his sighing mother-land.”

BILLY RABBIT TO MARY.

[Billy Rabbit was a little rabbit which a boy caught in the woods, and gave to a little girl of the name of Mary.  She was very attentive to the little prisoner, gave him an abundance of good things to eat, and tried her best to make him happy; but all in vain.  After many attempts, he at last succeeded in making his escape, and instantly disappeared in the woods.  In the course of the day, the following letter, sealed with a sharp thorn, was received by his friend Mary.]

    Artichoke Woods.