hrough the open door,
Upon the beggar throng;
Through the crowd he saw a noble boy,
Pushing his way along.

Strange was the little fellow's dress,
Of divers colors all;
But with the beggars he would not stay,--
He looked up at the hall.

Within the hall little Roland treads,
As though it were his own;
He takes a dish from the royal board
In silence, and is gone.

The king he thinks,--"What do I see?
This is a curious way";
But, as he quietly submits,
The rest do nothing say.

In a little while again he comes,
To the king he marches up,
And little Roland boldly takes
The royal golden cup.

"Halloo! stop there! thou saucy wight!"
King Charles's voice did ring;
Little Roland kept the golden cup,
And looked up at the king.

The king at first looked angrily;
But very soon he smiled:--
"You tread here in our golden hall,
As in the green woods wild.

"From the royal table you take a dish,
As they take an apple from a tree;
As with the waters of the brook,
With my red wine you make free."

"The peasant drinks from the running brook,
On apples she may dine;
My mother must have fish and game,
For her is the foaming wine."

"Is thy mother such a noble dame
As thou, my boy, dost boast,
Then surely has she a castle fair,
And of vassals a stately host.

"Tell me, who may her sewer be?
And who cupbearer, too?"
"My own right hand her sewer is;
My left, cupbearer true."

"Tell on; who are her faithful guards?"
"My two blue eyes alway."
"Tell on; who is her minstrel free?"
"My rosy mouth, I say."

"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