“Now even thee, whose tongue hath never lied, + 

Nor can, thy softened mood hath turned aside + 

To utter feignèd speech. Thou askest, King, + 

The maiden’s lineage!⁠—thou to whom everything + 

Is known, all issues whereto all things tend, + 

All paths that lead thereto through all the world: + 

How many leaves earth up to light doth send + 

In spring, the number of the sand-grains hurled + 

Down seas and streams when waves wind-driven rise, + 

And what shall come to pass and whence⁠—thine eyes + 

See clearly. Yet, if I must match me against the wise, + 