CURSE AND BLESSING
To the river ran the mother, To her Mary by the water, Dreaming there, the pretty daughter: "Have you washed the linen, Mary?" "Why, mother dear, not yet begun; A naughty youth did come my way, And muddy made the silvery water." "I'll curse him, then; I'll curse him, daughter! Cold be his heart as ice is cold." "As cold as the sun o'er the corn-fields, mother!" "May his face be black before all men!" "As black as the snow on the mountains, mother!" "May he be hanged!—Dost hear, my daughter!" "But hanged upon my neck, dear mother!" "From grievous wounds he then shall suffer!" "Let my own teeth, then, cause them, mother!" "May the wild torrent take him, daughter!" "And bring him home to me, my mother!" J. W. W.
CV
THE NICEST FLOWER IN THE WORLD
A yellow orange by the sea Vaunted much his beauty, This boast the red, round apple heard, Scolded the orange for his word, "See my superiority!"
The apple's boast the meadow heard, The meadow rich beflowered: "Boast not, thou smooth, round apple red, But see how I am carpeted, So green and richly dowered!"
The meadow's boast the maiden heard: "Deem'st flowery mead, so great thy worth! Though sweetly thou art sure bedight, Yet still I am the sweetest sight, That can be found in all the earth."
These vaunts heard all a daring youth: "This maid, I see she is in truth, She is by far the sweetest flower That can be found in all the earth. That orange, I will bring it down, That apple-tree, I'll root it up, That meadow's flowers shall all be mown, And thou, fair maid, shalt be mine own!" J. W. W.