As soon as they heard of the hounds the cry,
And were I only young again!
They feared the ghost was drawing nigh—
To honied words we list so fain.
Whene’er the dogs were heard to rave,
And were I only young again!
They feared the woman had left her grave—
To honied words we list so fain.
THE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL
I take my axe upon my back,
To fell the tree I mean;
Then came the man the wood who owned,
And thrust his heft between.
“If thou hew down my father’s grove,
And me this damage do,
If I but see thee fell the tree
Thou dearly that shalt rue.”
“O let me hew this single tree,
Nor to resist me seek;
Unless I yonder bird obtain
With grief my heart will break.”
“Now list thou fair and gallant swain,
To me incline thine ear!
Thou ne’er wilt yonder bird obtain
Unless some bait thou bear.”
From off my breast the bait I cut,
And hung it on the bough:
The breast it bled, the bait it reeked,
Mine is the birdie now.
Down flew the lovely little bird,
Fluttering its wings o’erjoyed;
It seemed to smile as if the guile
It knew that I employed.
It clawed and picked so hastily,
So well did smack the bait;
And still the more it seemed to please
The more the birdie ate.