And for a while the court was still,
Tense, waiting on the harpist's will,
From lord and lady to the King.
One spoke: "It was an evil thing!"
One: "Hush! He is about to sing."
The jester shook his golden bells,
And laughed: "A pretty tale he tells
Of Altair and Aldebaran;
Faith! Never since court-fools began
Was heard the like.--Lemurian!"
A bishop raised his mitred head:
"It was the Flood, I think"--he said.
"Aye, even so"--replied a priest:
"Was not that city in the east?
Altair?--Apocalyptic Beast!"
Then spake the King upon his throne:
"Never such harping have I known;
It is a right majestic tale--
How poetry and song prevail
On sword and shield and burnished mail!"
Again the minstrel tuned the strings--
His harp of many murmurings--
Again on softer chord began
The song of bright Aldebaran: