The Water-Fiend's malignant eye
Along the banks beheld her hie;
Straight to his mother-witch he sped,
And thus in suppliant accents said:

"Oh! mother! mother! now advise,
How I may yonder maid surprise :
Oh! mother mother! now explain,
How I may yonder maid obtain."

The witch she gave him armour white;
She formed him like a gallant knight:
Of water clear next made her hand
A steed, whose housings were of sand.

The Water-King then swift he went;
To Mary's church his steps he bent:
He bound his courser to the door,

And paced the church-yard three times four.

His courser to the door bound he,

And paced the church-yard four times three;
Then hastened up the aisle, where all
The people flock'd both great and small.

The priest said, as the knight drew near,

-"And wherefore comes the white chief here?" The lovely maid she smiled aside;

"Oh! would I were the white chief's bride!".

He stepped o'er benches one and two; -"Oh! lovely maid, I die for you ! He stepped o'er benches two and three; -"Oh! lovely maiden, go with me!”

Then sweetly smiled the lovely maid ;
And while she gave her hand, she said,
"Betide me joy, betide me woe,
"O'er hill, o'er dale, with thee I go."-

The priest their hands together joins;

They dance while clear the moonbeam shines:
And little thinks the maiden bright,
Her partner is the Water-Sprite.

Oh had some spirit deigned to sing,
"Your bridegroom is the Water-King!
The maid had fear and hate confessed,
And cursed the hand which then she pressed.

But nothing giving cause to think

How near she strayed to danger's brink,
Still on she went, and hand in hand
The lovers reached the yellow sand.

"Ascend this steed with me, my dear! We needs must cross the streamlet here: Ride boldly in: it is not deep;

The winds are hushed, the billows sleep."

Thus spoke the Water-King. The maid
Her traitor-bridegroom's wish obeyed:
And soon she saw the courser lave
Delighted in his parent wave.

"Stop! stop! my love! The waters blue E'en now my shrinking foot bedew.”—

"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart! We now have reached the deepest part."

Stop! stop! my love! for now I see The waters rise above my knee."

-"Oh! lay aside your fears, sweet heart! We now have reached the deepest part."

66

Stop! stop! for God's sake, stop! for oh! The waters o'er my bosom flow!"

Scarce was the word pronounced, when knight And courser vanished from her sight.

She shrieks, but shrieks in vain; for high
The wild winds rising, dull the cry;

The fiend exults; the billows dash,

And o'er the hapless victim wash.

Three times, while struggling with the stream,

The lovely maid was heard to scream;
But when the tempest's rage was o'er,
The lovely maid was seen no more.

Warned by this tale, ye damsels fair,
To whom you give your love beware!
Believe not every handsome knight,
And dance not with the Water-Sprite!

From the Danish.

CLV

THE MINSTREL.

The way was long, the wind was cold,
The Minstrel was infirm and old;
His withered cheek, and tresses grey,
Seemed to have known a better day;
The harp, his sole remaining joy,
Was carried by an orphan boy;
The last of all the Bards was he,
Who sung of Border chivalry;
For, well-a-day! their date was fled.
His tuneful brethren all were dead;
And he, neglected and oppressed,
Wished to be with them, and at rest.
No more, on prancing palfrey borne,
He carolled, light as lark at morn;
No longer, courted, and caressed,
High placed in hall, a welcome guest,
He poured to lord and lady gay,

The unpremeditated lay:

Old times were changed, old manners gone;

A stranger filled the Stuart's throne;

The bigots of the iron time

Had called his harmless art a crime.
A wandering harper, scorned and poor,
He begged his bread from door to door;
And tuned, to please a peasant's ear,
The harp a king had loved to hear.

SIR W. SCOTT.

CLVI

THE FAIRY QUEEN.

Her chariot ready straight is made,
Each thing therein is fitting laid,
That she by nothing might be stayed,

For nought must be her letting:
Four nimble gnats the horses were,
Their harnesses of gossamer,
Fly Cranion, her charioteer,

Upon the coach-box getting.

Her chariot of a snail's fine shell,
Which for the colours did excel,
The fair Queen Mab becoming well,
So lively was the limning:
The seat the soft wool of the bee,
The cover (gallantly to see)
The wing of a pied butterflee,

I trow, 't was simple trimming.

BB