Wherewith they nimbly urged the bounding sphere
Across the meshy bar.
No space had I
To ponder, ere they spied me and did call
A welcome—"Hast thou come to see us play?"
"What is the game?" I ask'd; they answer'd "Love."
"A pretty game," quoth I, "for man or maid,
But one wherein a third is out of place;
Fain would I therefore go." "Nay, nay," they cried;
"Prithee remain, and thou shalt stand as umpire."