t thy light out
That thou never burn again!"

II.

Federigo, the son of the Marquis,
Takes the lady by the hand:
"Thou must bid me God-speed on a journey,
For I leave my native land.

"From Mantua to-morrow
I go, a banished man;
Make me glad for truth and love's sake
Of my father's curse and ban.

"Our quarrel has left my mother
Like death upon the floor;
And I come from a furious presence
I never shall enter more.

"I would not wed the woman
He had chosen for my bride,
For my heart had been before him,
With his statecraft and his pride.

"I swore to him by my princehood
In my love I would be free;
And I swear to thee by my manhood,
I love no one but thee.

"Let the Duke of Bavaria marry
His daughter to whom he will:
There where my love was given
My word shall be faithful still.

"There are six true hearts will follow
My truth wherever I go,
And thou equal truth wilt keep me
In welfare and in woe."

The maiden answered him nothing
Of herself, but his words again
Came back through her lips like an echo
From an abyss of pain;

And vacantly repeating
"In welfare and in woe,"
Like a dream from the heart of fever
From her arms she felt him go.

III.

Out of Mantua's gate at daybreak
Seven comrades wander forth
On a path that leads at their humor,
East, west, or south, or north.

The prince's laugh rings lightly,
"What road shall we take from home?"
And they answer, "We never shall lose it
If we take the road to Rome."

And with many a jest and banter
The comrades keep their way,
Journeying out of the twilight
Forward into the day,

When they are aware beside them
Goes a pretty minstrel lad,
With a shy and downward aspect,
That is neither sad nor glad.

Over his slender shoulder,
His mandolin was slung,
And around its chords the treasure
Of his golden tresses hung.

Spoke one of the seven companions,
"Little minstrel, whither away?"--
"With seven true-hearted comrades
On their journey, if I may."

Spoke one of the seven companions,
"If our way be hard and long?"--
"I will lighten it with my music
And shorten it with my song."

Spoke one of the seven companions,
"But what are the songs thou know'st?"--
"O, I know many a ditty,
But this I sing the most:

"How once