The Kings Daughter
By Algernon Charles Swinburne
We were ten maidens in the green corn,
Small red leaves in the mill-water:
Fairer maidens never were born,
Apples of gold for the kings daughter.
We were ten maidens by a well-head,
Small white birds in the mill-water:
Sweeter maidens never were wed,
Rings of red for the kings daughter.
The first to spin, the second to sing,
Seeds of wheat in the mill-water;
The third may was a goodly thing,
White bread and brown for the kings daughter.
The fourth to sew and the fifth to play,
Fair green weed in the mill-water;
The sixth may was a goodly may,
White wine and red for the kings daughter.
The seventh to woo, the eighth to wed,
Fair thin reeds in the mill-water;
The ninth had gold work on her head,
Honey in the comb for the kings daughter.
The ninth had gold work round her hair,
Fallen flowers in the mill-water;
The tenth may was goodly and fair,
Golden gloves for the kings daughter.
We were ten maidens in a field green,
Fallen fruit in the mill-water;
Fairer maidens never have been,
Golden sleeves for the kings daughter.
By there comes the kings young son,
A little wind in the mill-water;
Out of ten maidens yell grant me one,
A crown of red for the kings daughter.
Out of ten mays yell give me the best,
A little rain in the mill-water;
A bed of yellow straw for all the rest,
A bed of gold for the kings daughter.
Hes taen out the goodliest,
Rain that rains in the mill-water;
A comb of yellow shell for all the rest,
A comb of gold for the kings daughter.
Hes made her bed to the goodliest,
Wind and hail in the mill-water;
A grass girdle for all the rest,
A girdle of arms for the kings daughter.
Hes set his heart to the goodliest,
Snow that snows in the mill-water;
Nine little kisses for all the rest,
An hundredfold for the kings daughter.
Hes taen his leave at the goodliest,
Broken boats in the mill-water;
Golden gifts for all the rest,
Sorrow of heart for the kings daughter.
Yell make a grave for my fair body,
Running rain in the mill-water;
And yell streek my brother at the side of me,
The pains of hell for the kings daughter.