And folded her arms across her chest,

And crouched her head upon her breast,

And look'd askance at Christabel-

Jesu, Maria, shield her well!

A snake's small eye blinks dull and shy,

And the lady's eyes they shrunk in her head,

Each shrunk up to a serpent's eye,

And with somewhat of malice, and more

of dread

At Christabel she look'd askance!—