As she knew by the glare of the mad eyes’ stare,
He had been with the Elle-maid gay.
“‘God love thee——God pity thee, O my Ludwig!’
Nor her true arms turned she away.
‘Thou art no sweet woman,’ cried fiercely Ludwig,
‘But a foul Elle-maid gay.
“‘I kiss thee——I slay thee;——I thy Ludwig’:
And the steel flashed bright to the day:
‘Better clasp a dead bride,’ laughed out Ludwig,
‘Than a false Elle-maid gay.