As before the fowl the crumbs she laid.
And he murmured low, "O Goldilocks!
Were we but amid the wheaten shocks!"
Then the false Queen knit her brows and laid
A fair white hand by the hand of the Maid.
He turned his eyes away thereat,
And closer to the Maiden sat.
But the queen-bird now the carle-bird fed
Till all was gone of the sugared bread.
Then with wheedling voice for more he craved,