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 by my music . ' ` Stay here then a few days , and when you wish to leave I will give you what you ask for in your song -- your heart 's desire . ' So the lute player stayed on in the palace and sang and played almost all day long to the king , who could never tire of listening and almost forgot to eat or drink or to torment people . He cared for nothing but the music , and nodded his head as he declared , ` That 's something like playing and singing . It makes me feel as if some gentle hand had lifted every care and sorrow from me . ' After three days the lute player came to take leave of the king . ` Well , ' said the king , ` what do you desire as your reward ? ' ` Sire , give me one of your prisoners . You have so many in your prison , and I should be glad of a companion on my journeys . When I hear his happy voice as I travel along I shall think of you and thank you . ' ` Come along then , ' said the king , ` choose whom you will . ' And he took the lute player through the prison himself . The queen walked about amongst the prisoners , and at length she picked out her husband and took him with her on her journey . They were long on their way , but he never found out who she was , and she led him nearer and nearer to his own country . When they reached the frontier the prisoner said : ` Let me go now , kind lad ; I am no common prisoner , but the king of this country .
Let me XXXXX free and ask what you will as your reward . '
Come am give go heard picked pray reached said sung