Edmund
Vale.
THE
KING 'S
WHITE
DAUGHTER .
DEHOLD
!
“
The
Bride's
Descent,"
a
thousand
steps
to
a
great
river,
Decked
all with
garlands
for nuptials
soon
to be
Old
towers and
gateways
leading
up
for
ever
Through
ancient Courts
of
Silence
to
the
Kingdom
of
Faerie .
And
the
wild
swans
flew
up
that sunny
water ,
And
the wild
swans
flew
down ;
And
high
above
the lawns
where
walked
the King 's
White
Daughter
They
flew
and
took
the sunlight which
sparkled
in
her
crown .
And
on
the
lawn
she
saw
them ,
their
long
V'd
shadows
slanting ,
While
beside her
walked
the
peacocks, and
behind
her
strolled
the
page ;
And
she
cried with
her
hands
clasped , “ Why
should
these
go
flaunting
?
They kill
the
pretty
sunlight !
' Tis
the
sign
of
Death
and
Age
!"
"
There
is
nor
age nor
death
for
thee
,
my Lady
,
Thou
art
enchanted
”
—
and
up
he
took
his bow
.
“
True
!”
she cried laughing
,
“
but still more
persuade me
,
Strike
them
through
their
long
necks
,
through
their
long necks
all
of
snow
!
"
201