All night long the prisoners were chained up , and in the morning they were yoked together like oxen and had to plough the land till it grew dark . This state of things went on for three years before the king found any means of sending news of himself to his dear queen , but at last he contrived to send this letter : ` Sell all our castles and palaces , and put all our treasures in pawn and come and deliver me out of this horrible prison . ' The queen received the letter , read it , and wept bitterly as she said to herself , ` How can I deliver my dearest husband ? If I go myself and the heathen king sees me he will just take me to be one of his wives . If I were to send one of the ministers ! -- but I hardly know if I can depend on them . ' She thought , and thought , and at last an idea came into her head . She cut off all her beautiful long brown hair and dressed herself in boy 's clothes . Then she took her lute and , without saying anything to anyone , she went forth into the wide world . She travelled through many lands and saw many cities , and went through many hardships before she got to the town where the heathen king lived . When she got there she walked all round the palace and at the back she saw the prison . Then she went into the great court in front of the palace , and taking her lute in her hand , she began to play so beautifully that one felt as though one could never hear enough . After she had played for some time she began to sing , and her voice was sweeter than the lark 's : ' I come from my own country far Into this foreign land , Of all I own I take alone My sweet lute in my hand . ` Oh ! who will thank me for my song , Reward my simple lay ? Like lover 's sighs it still shall rise To greet thee day by day . ' I sing of blooming flowers Made sweet by sun and rain ; Of all the bliss of love 's first kiss , And parting 's cruel pain . ` Of the sad captive 's longing Within his prison wall , Of hearts that sigh when none are nigh To answer to their call . ` My song begs for your pity , And gifts from out your store , And as I play my gentle lay I linger near your door . ` And if you hear my singing Within your palace , sire , Oh !
give , I pray , this happy XXXXX , To me my heart 's desire . '
day first morning night oxen prisoners queen sighs sire years