The man has gripped his garden spade

As if he would dig his grave in the snow;

The boy has the face of a saint, I trow;

His brow says, "I was not afraid!"

First Traveller:

Ah well, these things must be, you know!

Gather your sables around your throat;

Give us that story about the monk,

His niece, and the wandering conjurer,

Just to keep our blood astir.