Elizabeth Barrett Browning
The Romance of the Swan’s Nest
I.

Little Ellie sits alone
       &nbsp'Mid the beeches of a meadow,
       &nbsp       &nbspBy a stream-side on the grass,
And the trees are showering down
       &nbspDoubles of their leaves in shadow
       &nbsp       &nbspOn her shining hair and face.

II.

She has thrown her bonnet by,
       &nbspAnd her feet she has been dipping
       &nbsp       &nbspIn the shallow water's flow:
Now she holds them nakedly
       &nbspIn her hands, all sleek and dripping,
       &nbsp       &nbspWhile she rocketh to and fro.

III.

Little Ellie sits alone,
       &nbspAnd the smile she softly uses
       &nbsp       &nbspFills the silence like a speech
While she thinks what shall be done,
       &nbspAnd the sweetest pleasure chooses
       &nbsp       &nbspFor her future within reach.
IV.

Little Ellie in her smile
       &nbspChooses—"I will have a lover
       &nbsp       &nbspRiding on a steed of steeds:
He shall love me without guile,
       &nbspAnd to him I will discover
       &nbsp       &nbspThe swan's nest among the reeds.

V.

"And the steed shall be red-roan,
       &nbspAnd the lover shall be noble,
       &nbsp       &nbspWith an eye that takes the breath:
And the lute he plays upon
       &nbspShall strike ladies into trouble,
       &nbsp       &nbspAs his sword strikes men to death.

VI.

"And the steed it shall be shod
       &nbspAll in silver, housed in azure,
       &nbsp       &nbspAnd the mane shall swim the wind;
And the hoofs along the sod
       &nbspShall flash onward and keep measure,
       &nbsp       &nbspTill the shepherds look behind.
VII.

"But my lover will not prize
       &nbspAll the glory that he rides in,
       &nbsp       &nbspWhen he gazes in my face:
He will say, 'O Love, thine eyes
       &nbspBuild the shrine my soul abides in,
       &nbsp       &nbspAnd I kneel here for thy grace!'

VIII.


"Then, ay, then he shall kneel low,
       &nbspWith the red-roan steed anear him
       &nbsp       &nbspWhich shall seem to understand,
Till I answer, 'Rise and go!
       &nbspFor the world must love and fear him
       &nbsp       &nbspWhom I gift with heart and hand.'

IX.

"Then he will arise so pale,
       &nbspI shall feel my own lips tremble
       &nbsp       &nbspWith a yes I must not say,
Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,'
       &nbspI will utter, and dissemble—
       &nbsp       &nbsp'Light to-morrow with to-day!'
X.

"Then he'll ride among the hills
       &nbspTo the wide world past the river,
       &nbsp       &nbspThere to put away all wrong;
To make straight distorted wills,
       &nbspAnd to empty the broad quiver
       &nbsp       &nbspWhich the wicked bear along.

XI.

"Three times shall a young foot-page
       &nbspSwim the stream and climb the mountain
       &nbsp       &nbspAnd kneel down beside my feet—
'Lo, my master sends this gage,
       &nbspLady, for thy pity's counting!
       &nbsp       &nbspWhat wilt thou exchange for it?'

XII.

"And the first time I will send
       &nbspA white rosebud for a guerdon,
       &nbsp       &nbspAnd the second time, a glove;
But the third time—I may bend
       &nbspFrom my pride, and answer—'Pardon
       &nbsp       &nbspIf he comes to take my love.'

XIII.

"Then the young foot-page will run,
       &nbspThen my lover will ride faster,
       &nbsp       &nbspTill he kneeleth at my knee:
'I am a duke's eldest son,
       &nbspThousand serfs do call me master,
       &nbsp       &nbspBut, O Love, I love but thee!'

XIV.

"He will kiss me on the mouth
       &nbspThen, and lead me as a lover
       &nbsp       &nbspThrough the crowds that praise his deeds;
And, when soul-tied by one troth,
       &nbspUnto him I will discover
       &nbsp       &nbspThat swan's nest among the reeds."

XV.

Little Ellie, with her smile
       &nbspNot yet ended, rose up gaily,
       &nbsp       &nbspTied the bonnet, donned the shoe,
And went homeward, round a mile,
       &nbspJust to see, as she did daily,
       &nbsp       &nbspWhat more eggs were with the two.

XVI.

Pushing through the elm-tree copse,
       &nbspWinding up the stream, light-hearted,
       &nbsp       &nbspWhere the osier pathway leads,
Past the boughs she stoops—and stops.
       &nbspLo, the wild swan had deserted,
       &nbsp       &nbspAnd a rat had gnawed the reeds!

XVII.

Ellie went home sad and slow.
       &nbspIf she found the lover ever,
       &nbsp       &nbspWith his red-roan steed of steeds,
Sooth I know not; but I know
       &nbspShe could never show him—never,
       &nbsp       &nbspThat swan's nest among the reeds!