The Kaiser’s Feast

The Kaiser feasted in his hall--The red wine mantled high;Banners were trembling on the wallTo the peals of minstrelsy:And many a gleam and sparkle cameFrom the armour hung around,As it caught the glance of the torch’s flame,Or the hearth with pine-boughs crown’d.

Why fell there silence on the chordBeneath the harper’s hand?And suddenly from that rich board,Why rose the wassail band?The strings were hush’d--the knights made wayFor the queenly mother’s tread,As up the hall, in dark array,Two fair-hair’d boys she led.

She led them e’en to the Kaiser’s place,And still before him stood;Till, with strange wonder, o’er his faceFlush’d the proud warrior-blood:And “Speak, my mother! speak!” he cried,“Wherefore this mourning vest?And the clinging children by thy side,In weeds of sadness drest?”

“Well may a mourning vest be mine,And theirs, my son, my son!Look on the features of thy lineIn each fair little one!Though grief awhile within their eyesHath tamed the dancing glee,Yet there thine own quick spirit lies--Thy brother’s children see!

“And where is he, thy brother--where?He in thy home that grew,And smiling, with his sunny hair,Ever to greet thee flew?How would his arms thy neck entwine,His fond lips press thy brow!My son! oh, call these orphans thine!--Thou hast no brother now!

“What! from their gentle eyes doth naughtSpeak of thy childhood’s hours,And smite thee with a tender thoughtOf thy dead father’s towers?Kind was thy boyish heart and true,When rear’d together there,Through the old woods like fawns ye flew--Where is thy brother--where?

“Well didst thou love him then, and heStill at thy side was seen!How is it that such things can beAs though they ne’er had been?Evil was this world’s breath, which cameBetween the good and brave!Now must the tears of grief and shameBe offer’d to the grave.

“And let them, let them there be pour’d!Though all unfelt below--Thine own wrung heart, to love restored,Shall soften as they flow.Oh! death is mighty to make peace;Now bid his work be done!So many an inward strife shall cease--Take, take these babes, my son!”

His eye was dimm’d--the strong man shookWith feelings long suppress’d;Up in his arms the boys he took,And strain’d them to his breast.And a shout from all in the royal hallBurst forth to hail the sight;And eyes were wet midst the brave that metAt the Kaiser’s feast that night.