-- 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 day , To me my heart 's desire . ' No sooner had the heathen king heard this touching song sung by such a lovely voice , than he had the singer brought before him . ` Welcome , O lute player , ' said he . ` Where do you come from ? ' ` My country , sire , is far away across many seas .
For years I have been wandering about the world and gaining my living XXXXX my music . '
After Like To across before by for in into of