With stately poise the princess strolls down palace halls,
Her only company a matron once her nurse,
Above spread arches dim. Beside sit gilded walls,
Her path displaying everywhere a bounteous purse.
She goes to ponder well the men who've answered now
Her father's summoning of suitors qualified
By royal blood. Reluctantly will he allow
His darling child to marry, but to be a bride
Has always been a woman's fate, and since it seems
Her time has come, he wants to find a worthy man.
Because he values most her happiness, all schemes
To his advantage he has set aside. His plan
Instead is let her choose. Six months she's worn black chains
Of doubt, all fearful none would seek her hand, but since
The gate was raised this morning, riders in long trains
Have entered, each in splendor, following a prince.
Four men have come to win her smile, all kings or kings
To be, and brought her piles of gifts beyond compare.
She found laid at her chamber door bright jeweled rings,
Gowns shimmering, capes elegant, and perfumes rare.
And now it's time to meet them one-by-one. The place
Will be the throne room, which, with heart aflutter, she
Approaches. There she's greeted by the happy face
Of mother dear, who says, "This day in memory
Will leave you naught but joy, for you at last will meet
Your heart's desire. My ladies will attend you when
You sit beside your father, waiting now to greet
Our guests. Polite his face but sad his soul." So then
She took her place and heard his voice both firm and soft,
"Bring in Lord Damian." At once with aspect bold
There strutted toward the throne a prince with nose aloft
And clothes of flashing color. Though he looked not old,
He surely was no boy. His leering eyes stood wide
As proof he'd toured the world of pleasure and for years
Had gone to castles everywhere and tried
In festal singing, balls, parades, and jousts with spears
To plumb the depths of joy, but always did he float
Upon the surface. Princely in his blood, in line
To be a king, but in his soul a silly goat.
The king addressed him, "Sir, your wish is to combine
Your house with ours by marriage to my daughter. Why
Should we prefer your suit?" Lord Damian then faced
The girl and said in luscious words, "Because I'd ply
A sword against grim death to win a lady graced
With so much beauty. Princess, loudly you're acclaimed
From sea to sea, for thou art gorgeous." Flattered she
Was not, and mused, "I'm gorgeous? Evil word! Defamed
I feel. A weapon to destroy all purity,
A screen for guile, a paint for dying souls, a curse."
The king, who sensed her mind, knew she was not the girl
That lechers saw. Twas' plain there was no future worse
Than giving her to Damian. "She's my pearl,"
He thought. "She'll never wed a fool in finery."
He said, "We thank you, sir, for coming. We'll reflect
Upon your words." Then with abrupt finality,
He spoke a quick, "Good day. Bring in King Bravacek."
In walked an older nobleman, a widower
With weary smile and shuffling gait. He was a king,
And measured by heroic deeds, none worthier
She'd find. But wrinkles did not make her heart to sing.
He stopped and gazed upon the girl; a smile, though weak,
Came struggling to his face. "My friend and comrade," spoke
He slowly to her father, "Wrapped in grief, I seek
A wife. The sudden taking of my soul mate broke
My heart. I hoped perhaps your daughter might reduce
The pain. She is the cutest thing I've seen in years."
The girl's heart froze. "I'm cute?" she thought. "Cute like a goose,
A teddy bear, a Christmas stocking? It appears
I won't be his companion but his toy." The eyes
Of father dear were not, however, full of shock,
But pity. "Noble friend," he said, "you recognize
A darling child. But you're a grandsire with a flock
Of little ones, all clustered round your throne, a joy
I want as well. Have I your promise that your life
Will stretch for years enough to give me girl and boy
And boy and girl 'til noise of running feet is rife?"
King Bravacek now hung his head, then softly said,
"In truth I came in hope that you would choose me should
No stalwart prince stride forth and claim your maid to wed.
A worthy man is hard to find. In sea or wood
Or fortress, few shine forth with goodness built on strength."
"Sad truth you speak," replied the king before him. "Glad
To summon you I'll be if none will come from length
Or breadth or height of kingdoms known to me who's clad
In honor gracing all his youth." Then with a warm
Embrace the two colleagues in courage parted. "Call
The next in line," the king declared. In walked a form
So mighty all heads turned in wonder. He was tall
As oaks and broad as bulls, his voice a thunder clap.
In joust or battle he was nigh invincible.
To all his men, a hero. To his foes, a trap
Most deadly to avoid. But though his life was full
Of prizes he had gained through heft and cunning, one
He lacked. All women still unwed, both chambermaid
And royal blood, adored him in their dreams. But none
His notice drew, for never would he trade
His glory for a common face. Reflections bright
In pond and mirror showed a champion who'd win
The rarest beauty in the world. The fearsome sight
Of him did catch all eyes. The princess felt deep in
Her heart a longing wholly new, that made the man
Loom taller than he was, a giant riveting
Her soul and waking thrills within her chest. A fan
She pulled from sleeve and waved it coyly. But the king
Was not impressed. He spoke, "Lord Lionel, what would
You say?" The tow'ring knight aglow with ego vast
Turned to the girl and said, "For years alone I've stood,
Without a worthy woman at my side. At last
I see in you my queen. Life next to me will bring
You grandeur laced with power. There you'll bask 'til life
Is done." This glance at days to come brought wisdom's sting
Upon her mind. "How happy would I be as wife
To such a man? For I'm so small and he's so strong.
What if I fail to please his pride? This thought brings dread.
A nunnery? Or sell me to a minstrel for a song?
Or would he give me poison, or cut off my head?"
Her sanity aroused, her eyes and father's met.
In truth, he was not list'ning to the knight, a man
He never saw as lover, only as a threat,
For in the morning when he learned the caravan
Of Lionel had passed inside his walls, he'd warned
His soldiers to prepare for battle. Once the knight
Learned that his plea to wed the pretty lass was scorned,
He'd not accept humiliating loss. He'd fight
To take the girl by force. So now with sly intent,
The king with jovial voice addressed the man,
"We've here received a suit from one magnificent.
That surely is our privilege. But lest we fan
Resistance from less worthy knights, we must proceed
By sending all the suitors home. Then soon we will
Dispatch swift messengers informing them whose steed
The lady chooses hence to ride, whose throne to fill.
You can be certain, lord of warriors, that no one
Today has cut a figure more appealing to
A lady's admiration. After all you've done
To show us clearly who you are, you need not do
Still more. You may depart." Pleased with the interview,
The royal Lionel departed with a smile
And promptly led his men back home. So now the cue
To stride ahead with stout resolve and face his trial
Before the king was brought to yet another knight
Who stood outside with anxious heart. Unlike the rest,
He was a prince still young. As proof his name Albright
Spoke true, his face now shone with zest
And hope. Yet here he was no stranger. Once before
He'd come to join the king in hunting exploits, then
He'd sat to dine with all the family. Even more,
He'd been allowed if mother watched to spend
TIme with the princess, trading words and glances shy.
And when she sat at table she could overhear
his lively talk with father. There she found him nigh
to serious but never lacking in good cheer,
Strong in convictions, sometimes vague in what he knew,
But wise in matters most important. Here before
The king, he was to his surprise afraid. He drew
Deep breaths and struggled to control the look he wore.
'TIl suddenly he overmastered face and voice,
Stood firm upon his feet, and held his chin up high
As though he could slay gruesome giants, but his choice
For now was let her see the twinkle in his eye.
Then came with regal sound the question most germane,
"Why would you marry this my daughter, dear to me?"
With new-born strength, the boy ascending to the plane
Of stalwart knight invincible brought forth his plea
In words both full of love unspeakable and rich
In truth like sermons heard where prophets stood.
"I see in thee all wonders and all blessings which
I crave, but one alone suffices. Thou art good."
Then from the princess any hovering doubts did flee.
The chimes and church bells in her heart began to ring.
Loud was her thought, "Sure I am blind should I not see
That standing here's the one God meant to be my king."
2018
