Flattery finds no home With Simper and Grimace, But Nature, in her artless dress, (A greenwood nymph is she,) With eyes so wild and flowing tress, And bare ungartered knee.
"Then come, O, come! O, come with me! Forgot be toil and care; O! come beneath the greenwood tree, For happiness is there. The sun shall shine with tempered ray, The moonbeam soft, yet bright; O, come! Joy beckons us away, To revel in delight!"
"Good!" exclaimed the Knight. "Thy voice is as sweet as a sky-lark's, and runs with marvellous cunning through the harmonious changes of the tune. Why, never preface thy song again with an apology, or I shall begin to doubt thy sincerity."
"Wild woods and savage life have not tarnished the courtly polish of Sir Christopher Gardiner," said Arundel. "And now for my guerdon, though in truth I feel shame for the little I have been able to do, in comparison with what I expect."
"By my troth, thou art a master in the science of delicate compliments. There was, I confess, a time when, with youthful vanity, I did esteem myself possessed of some skill, and could step along the gamut with any Don or Signor of them all; but that is long since, and I fear me that the gutturals of Northern Germany have quite driven out of my throat the liquids and vowels of Italy. However, to pleasure me, thou hast sung with infinite discretion and wonderful sweetness, a most delectable song; and now it were boorish not to attempt at least to repay thy musical favor."
So saying, the Knight sung in a manner and with an expression that proved him to be an accomplished musician, and in some contrast with the less artful style of Arundel, the following song:
"On golden Guadalquiver's banks Are tinkling gay guitars, To hail with song and smiling thanks, The soldier from the wars.
"When glowing youth and beauty met, Blush at each other's glance, And, bounding to the castanet, Entwine th' impassioned dance.
"And purple Xeres sends her wine, To laugh in those dark eyes, Whose flashing orbs the stars outshine, Of Andalusia's skies.
"Red lips repeat the hero's name, White hands are scattering flowers; Honor be his and deathless fame, And gratitude be ours!
"Delightful land of orange blooms, Of chivalry and song, Whose memory the past perfumes-- O! how for thee I long!
"Where'er may stray my wandering feet, I never will forget, Or Guadalquiver's maidens sweet, Or merry castanet.
"When sun, and moon, and stars turn pale, On Nature's funeral pyre, O'er all Spain's glory shall prevail, An eagle soaring higher."
"You have well profited by your opportunities, Sir Christopher," said Arundel, at its conclusion. "By mine honor, such sweet and artful notes never waked the echoes of a mighty forest. I seemed to mingle in the graceful fandango, and to taste the exhilarating Xeres in your song."
"Ah!" replied the Knight, with a half sigh. "It is only a reminiscence of youthful follies. But now it is thy turn again. I warrant me there is store of ravishing melodies in the treasury whence thou didst take thine."
"I dare not," said the young man modestly, "sing after thee. My poor notes would sound like those of the croaking raven, in comparison with the warblings of the yellow minstrel of the Canaries."
"Out with thee, hyperbolical flatterer! Believe me--I set a higher value on thy nature than on my art. Come, pipe up once more, and I will, meanwhile, try to recall another ditty."
"If such is to be my reward, I will not refuse, although I do thereby only expose my own incapacity. Here is a serenade:
"I stand beneath thy window, love, To tell my pleasing pain: O, flowers below, and stars above, Bear to her heart my strain! Say that the charms of earth and sky Are waiting for her company, And all sweet things my fair invite, To rise and perfect make the night.