The way
was intricate, and he stumbled over a heap of dried fuel. The noise
seemed to arrest her attention for a moment; but she again commenced her
song, paying little heed to this interruption. On recovering his
position, he was about to speak, when, to his great surprise, she thus
accosted him:--
"I have tarried long for thee. Haste--equip for the battle,--and then,
"'My merry men all,
Round the greenwood tree,
How gallant to ride
With a gay ladye.'
"I am crazed, belike. Good wot; but I can ride o'er the neck of a proud
prior.
"'And the moon shone clear
In the blue heavens, where
The stars twinkle through her veil of light:--
There they gave me a merry shooting star,
And I rolled round the wain with my golden car,
But I leapt on the lightning's flash, beside
The queen of this murky night!'"
"Crazed, indeed!" thought De Poininges.
"Hush," said she: "I'll tell thee a secret." She drew a light from some
concealed recess, and flashing it full in the face of the intruder,
seemed to enjoy the effect wonderfully. On a sudden her brow wrinkled,
and the dark billows came over her spirit as she exclaimed--
"But,
"'Thou hast work to do,
Or we may rue
The thieving trade.
Pages:
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186