Part 7

The brook which lately brawl'd among the trees Stood still, the murmur of that song to hear; No green leaf stirr'd, and fetter'd seem'd the breeze.

The thrush, upstarting in the distant dell, Shook its brown wing, with golden streaks array'd, And ap'd the witch-notes, as they rose and fell.

Bright gleam'd the lake's broad sheet of liquid blue, Where, with the rabid pike, the troutling play'd; The rose unlock'd its folded leaves anew,

And blush'd, besprinkled with the night's cold tear. Once more the lily rais'd its head and smil'd, All ghastly white, as when it decks the bier.

Though sweet she sang, my fears were not the less, For in her accents there was something wild, Which I can feel, 't is true, but not express.

"Come with us," sang she, "deep below the earth, Where sun ne'er burns, and storm-winds never rave; Come with us to our halls of princely mirth,

"There thou shalt learn from us the Runic lay; But dip thee, first, in yonder crystal wave, Which binds thee to the Elfin race for aye:

"Though painted flowers on earth's breast abound, Yet we have far more lovely ones below; Like grass the chrysolites there strew the ground."

"O come," the other syren did exclaim, "For rubies there more red than roses grow-- The sapphir's blue the violet puts to shame."

I rais'd my eyes to heaven's starry dome, And gripp'd my faulchion with convulsive might, Resolv'd no witchcraft should my mind o'ercome.

My lengthen'd silence vex'd the maidens sore: "Wilt thou detain us here the live-long night, Or must we, stripling, proffer something more?

"Taught by us, thou shalt bind the rugged bear,-- Seize on the mighty dragon's heap of gold,-- And slay the cockatrice while in her lair!

"But from thy breast the blood we will suck out, Unless thou follow us beneath the mould! Decide, decide, nor longer pause in doubt!"

Cold sweat I shed, and as, with trembling hand, I strove to whirl my beaming faulchion round, It sank, enthrall'd by magic's potent band.

Each witch drew nigh, with dagger high uprear'd; Just then a cock, beyond the wild wood's bound, Crew loud--and in the earth they disappear'd.

I flung myself upon my frighten'd barb, Just as the shades began to grow less murk, And sun-beams clad the sky in gayer garb.

Let each young warrior from such places fly: Disease and death beneath the flowers lurk; And elves would suck the warm blood from his eye.

THE HEDDYBEE-SPECTRE. FROM THE OLD DANISH.

I clomb in haste my dappled steed, And gallop'd far o'er mount and mead; And when the day drew nigh its close, I laid me down to take repose.

I laid me down to take repose, And slumbers sweet fell o'er my brows: And then, methought, as there I slept, From out the ground the dead man leapt.

Said he, "If thou art valiant, Knight, My murder soon will see the light; For thou wilt ride to Heddybee, Where live my youthful brothers three:

"And there, too, thou wilt surely find My father dear and mother kind; And there sits Kate, my much-loved wife, Who with her women took my life.

"They chok'd me, as in bed I lay, Then wrapp'd me in a truss of hay; And bore me out at dead of night, And laid me in this lonely height.

"The Groom, who lately clean'd my stall, Now struts and vapours through my hall,-- Eats gaily with my silver knife, And sleeps with Kate, my much-lov'd wife.

"His place is highest at the board; But what is most to be deplor'd, He gives my babes so little bread, And mocks them now their sire is dead.

"Clad in my clothes he proudly stalks Along the shady forest-walks; And, arm'd with bow and hunting spear, He shoots my birds and stabs my deer.

"Were I alive, to meet him now, All underneath the linden bough, With no one nigh, my wrath to check, I'd wring his head from off his neck!

"But hie thee hence to Heddybee, Where live my youthful brothers three; First tell them all--then stab the groom-- Allow my wife a milder doom."