Classic Poem

There was a Queen with a heart of ice.
— " Build me a palace of ice! " said she.
" A palace for mine enemy,
— And I will pay the price!

" Silver and gold to every slave
— That builds a palace ere the night,
A palace for my foe's delight! "
— Silver and gold she gave.

Uprose the palace broad and fair,
— Carved out of many a block,
With airy icicles that mock
— The moony glint of air.

Clear above and clear below,
— Up there rose against the night
A fairy palace all of white,
— Crowned and pinnacled with snow.

A crystal door on hinges swung.
— A crystal staircase twisted round
To where the crystal bells were hung
— That rang with never a sound.

The shining floor shone clear as glass.
— The Chapel held an Altar high.
" Now! " said she, " for mine enemy!
— There shall he hear a Mass!

" Robe his bride in a snowy gown,
— Veil her hair with a crystal veil,
In silver shield and coat of mail
— Of frosted silver, bring him down!

" Finely, finely shall ye deck
— The bride of this my rebel Earl!
In either ear a flake of pearl,
— And icy diamonds round her neck!

" The ring shall be of ivory,
— More precious than a precious stone,
For what is white as polished bone,
— And what is hard as chastity? "

There they knelt and there they prayed,
— He and she whose love had been
A fiery insult to the Queen.
— There the man betrothed the maid.

There they slept upon a bed
— Carven out of glassy ice.
Thus they loved and paid the price.
— In the morning they were dead.