The Serpent of the White Rose (3)

"And will get him a queen, they say, or his handsome brother
Cannot marry. Letters have gone even now
To foreign countries." I, loving the other,
Recovered patience and smiled, appeased to know
Why he stayed so long. A year and a change of weather
Brought to the Serpent a bride as white as snow.

She passed, slender and pale, down the streets of the city
Carrying lilies, alone through a merry crowd.
I am as pure, I thought. However haughty
You be, I will put you to shame when I ride proud
And happy to my wedding. White of your beauty
Will free the Prince to take me for his bride.

With celebration and wedding feast we hailed
Her Queen-to-come, as she entered the temple to wed
The thing she had not seen, for it was veiled.
The nuptial night, the Serpent took to bed
His snow-white lady--then in the chamber assailed
And killed her, crying, with her beside him, dead,

"Get me a bride before you take a bride"
Stricken, the shuddering kingdom began again
To placate the Serpent so the young prince could wed.
From the end of the world in two years came a maiden queen
Who had not heard the tale. She was as red
As a rose who came to the thing she had not seen.

Less prodigal, this time, the celebration
And wedding feast, for the kingdom guessed the death
Of the bride no accident. But in me elation
Sang for the coming time. Under my breath
I whispered. Though you be rich and wanton, my passion
Will make you pale beside, howeve blithe

And rosy red you go. But in the bed
Of her marriage she lay dead the second day,
While still the elder hissed, "Get my bride
Before you take a bride." The Prince then stayed
Not an hour. Straight to my house he rode and cried,
"I bid you bride. Keep to your proimise, maid.

"Come with me to my brother." The sunny glitter
In the cloth of gold he wore blinded my sight
For an instant. "Vain daydreamer, you are fitter
For the heir than you are for me. You shall by right
Of pledge marry your prince, however bitter
The venom of his kiss. This very night.

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