The three singing birds

 

The King walked in his garden green,

Where grew a marvellous tree;

And out of its leaves carne singing birds

By one, and two, and three.

 

The first bird had wings of white,

The second had wings of gold,

The third had wings of deepest blue

Most beauteous to behold.

 

The white bird flew to the northern land,

The gold bird flew to the west,

The blue bird flew to the cold, cold south

Where never bird might nest.

 

The King waited a twelvemonth long,

Till back the three birds flew,

They lighted down upon the tree,

The white, the gold, and the blue.

 

The white bird brought a pearly seed

And gave it to the King;

The gold bird from out of the west

He brought a golden ring.

 

The third bird with feathers blue

Who carne from the far cold south,

A twisted sea-shell smooth and grey

He carried in his mouth.

 

The King planted the pearly seed

Down in his garden green,

And up there sprang a pearl-white maid,

The fairest ever seen.

 

She looked at the

King and knelt her down

All under the magic tree,

She smiled at him with her red lips

But not a word said she.

 

Instead she took the grey sea-shell

And held it to his ear,

She pressed it cióse and soon the King

A strange, sweet song did hear.

 

He raised the fair maid by the hand

Until she stood at his side;

Then he gave her the golden ring

And took her for his bride.

 

And at their window sang the birds,

They sang the whole night through,

Then off they went at break of day,

The white, the gold, and the blue.