ny hardships before she got to the town where the heathen king lived.
When she got there she walked all round the palace and at the back
she saw the prison. Then she went into the great court in front of
the palace, and taking her lute in her hand, she began to play so
beautifully that one felt as though one could never hear enough.

After she had played for some time she began to sing, and her voice was
sweeter than the lark's:

'I come from my own country far
Into this foreign land,
Of all I own I take alone
My sweet lute in my hand.

'Oh! who will thank me for my song,
Reward my simple lay?
Like lover's sighs it still shall rise
To greet thee day by day.

'I sing of blooming flowers
Made sweet by sun and rain;
Of all the bliss of love's first kiss,
And parting's cruel pain.

'Of the sad captive's longing
Within his prison wall,
Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh
To answer to their call.

'My song begs for your pity,
And gifts from out your store,
And as I play my gentle lay
I linger near your door.

'And if you hear my singing
Within your palace, sire,
Oh! give, I pray, this happy day,
To me my heart's desire.'

No sooner had the heathen king heard this touching song sung by such a
lovely voice, than he had the singer brought before him.

'Welcome, O lute player,' said he. 'Where do you come from?'

'My country, sire, is far away across many seas. For years I have been
wandering about the world and gaining my living by my music.'

'Stay here then a few days, and when you wish to leave I will give you
what you ask for in your song--your heart's desire.'

So the lute player stayed on in the palace and sang and played almost
all day long to the king, who could never tire of listening and almost
forgot to eat or drink or to torment people.

He cared for nothing but the music, and nodded his head as he declared,
'That's something like playing and singing. It makes me feel as if some
gentle hand had lifted every care and sorrow from me.'

After three days the lute player came to take leave of the king.

'Well,' said the king, 'what do you desire as your reward?'

'Sire, give me one of your prisoners. You have so many in your prison,
and I should be glad of a companion on my journeys. When I hear his