First spake the eldest maiden: “How darest thou in our cave

First spake the eldest maiden: “How darest thou in our cave, Where from the God of heaven we home and shelter have? Go, seek again thy playmates, the billowy waters under; Enough ourselves we sorrow, and on our bitter lot in sadness ponder.”

The high-born child then answered: “I pray you let me stay; I truly am a Christian, you must not say me nay. One of the griffins seized me, and to the cave did carry; I cannot live all lonely, and here with you would I most gladly tarry.”

Then to the child so friendless they loving welcome gave; But they of his worth thereafter did better knowledge have. They now could ask him only, whence he had been stolen; But, such was then his hunger, in telling his tale, his heart was full and swollen.

Then spake the little foundling: “Food I sorely need; Give to me, in kindness, a little drink and bread. ’Tis long since I have had it, and now three days I’m fasting, The while the griffin bore me, and full a hundred miles was hither hasting.”