"WHAT tuneful strains salute mine ear <br /> <br />Without the castle walls? <br />Oh, let the song re-echo here, <br /> <br />Within our festal halls!" <br />Thus spake the king, the page out-hied; <br />The boy return'd; the monarch cried: <br /> <br />"Admit the old man yonder!" <br /> <br />"All hail, ye noble lords to-night! <br /> <br />All hail, ye beauteous dames! <br />Star placed by star! What heavenly sight! <br /> <br />Whoe'er can tell their names? <br />Within this glittering hall sublime, <br />Be closed, mine eyes! 'tis not the time <br /> <br />For me to feast my wonder." <br /> <br />The minstrel straightway closed his eyes, <br /> <br />And woke a thrilling tone; <br />The knights look'd on in knightly guise, <br /> <br />Fair looks tow'rd earth were thrown. <br />The monarch, ravish'd by the strain, <br />Bade them bring forth a golden chain, <br /> <br />To be his numbers' guerdon. <br /> <br />"The golden chain give not to me, <br /> <br />But give the chain to those <br />In whose bold face we shiver'd see <br /> <br />The lances of our foes. <br />Or give it to thy chancellor there; <br />With other burdens he may bear <br /> <br />This one more golden burden. <br /> <br />"I sing, like birds of blithesome note, <br /> <br />That in the branches dwell; <br />The song that rises from the throat <br /> <br />Repays the minstrel well. <br />One boon I'd crave, if not too bold-- <br />One bumper in a cup of gold <br /> <br />Be as my guerdon given." <br /> <br />The bowl he raised, the bowl he quaff'd: <br /> <br />"Oh drink, with solace fraught! <br />Oh, house thrice-blest, where such a draught <br /> <br />A trifling gift is thought! <br />When Fortune smiles, remember me, <br />And as I thank you heartily, <br /> <br />As warmly thank ye Heaven!"<br /><br />Johann Wolfgang von Goethe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-minstrel/
