THE MAGICIAN AND THE MAID OF BEAUTY
High in the sky he saw a rainbow, and on it the Maid of Beauty.
The Maid of Beauty looked down from her rainbow seat and laughed.
“You are a foolish old man,” she said, “to think that I care for you or for all that you promise. Let me tell you a story.”
“Certainly,” said the Minstrel.
“Well, yesterday I was walking in the meadows of the West. I was picking flowers and making this wreath which you see on my head. Suddenly I heard a thrush singing sweetly to his mate and nestlings. I stopped and listened to the little songster, and this is what I heard him sing:
“Summer days are warm and bright;
A maiden’s heart is always light.
Winter days are bitter cold;
Beware, beware of the suitor bold—