Classic Poem

In the sand I grew, by the rocky sea-wall
Near the surf firm-rooted in fixed abode.
Few were the men who beheld my refuge
In the lonely reaches beside the sea;
Only the dark wave at the day's dawning
Sportively bound me in flowing embrace.
Little I weened that I, who was voiceless,
Should ever hold speech, or discourse at the feast.
That is a marvel amazing the mind
Of those who know little of such-like things
How a knife's sharp edge, and a strong hand's skill,
Steel's keen point, and man's cunning craft,
Purposely planned me, assigned me my part
To give thee a message that we two may grasp,
To utter it boldly, yet so that no other
May publish abroad the words I report.
To thine ear only I tell the tale
How first as a sapling I flourished and grew. . . .
In the hold of a ship, o'er the salt sea-streams,
Where my liege lord sent me oft I have sailed.
Now in a bark's bosom here am I borne.
Now shalt thou learn of my lord's loyal love;
His enduring affection I dare to affirm.
Lady ring-laden, he bade me implore thee,
Who carved this wood, that thou call to mind
The pledges you plighted before you were parted,
While still in the same land together you shared
A lordly home and the rapture of love,
Before a feud drove him far from his folk.
He it is bids me eagerly urge
When from the hill slope, out of the wood,
Thou hearest the cuckoo plaintively calling,
Haste thee to ship on the tossing sea.
Let no living man, then, delay thee in sailing,
Stay thee in leaving or stop thee in flight.
Spread thy sail on the home of the sea-mew,
Take seat in thy galley, and steer away south
To where o'er the sea-lane thy lover awaits.
No greater bliss could his heart engage
In all the world—'twas his word to me—
If God the Almighty would grant you two
To dwell together and deal out gifts,
To tried retainers, of treasure and rings.
He hath abundance of beaten gold. . . .
Now in a far land my lord holds in fee
Home and fair fields though here once of old,
Fated and lonely, need forced him to flight,
Launching his ship on the lanes of the deep,
Churning the sea-streams in haste to escape.
Now his troubles are over and all distress,
He lacks no wealth that the heart may wish,
Jewels and horses and joys of the hall,
Nor any fair treasure that earth can afford.
O Prince's daughter! if he may possess thee,
To add to the pledges ye plighted of old,
Here S and R together I set,
EA, W, and D, by oath to declare
That while life lasts so long he'll be faithful
To lover's vow and to true love's pledge
Which often ye plighted in days of old.