Now seldom, I ween, is such costume seen, Except at a stage-play or masquerade; But who doth not know it was rather the go With Pilgrims and Saints in the second Crusade? With noiseless stride did that Palmer glide Across that oaken floor; And he made them all jump, he gave such a thump Against the Refectory door! Wide open it flew, and plain to the view The Lord Abbot they all mote see; In his hand was a cup and he lifted it up, "Here's the Pope's good health with three!" Rang in their ears three deafening cheers, "Huzza! huzza! huzza!" And one of the party said, "Go it, my hearty!"-- When outspake that Pilgrim gray-- "A boon, Lord Abbot! a boon! a boon! Worn is my foot, and empty my scrip; And nothing to speak of since yesterday noon Of food, Lord Abbot, hath passed my lip. "And I am come from a far countree, And have visited many a holy shrine; And long have I trod the sacred sod Where the Saints do rest in Palestine!"-- "An thou art come from a far countree, And if thou in Paynim lands hast been, Now rede me aright the most wonderful sight, Thou Palmer gray, that thine eyes have seen. "Arede me aright the most wonderful sight, Gray Palmer, that ever thine eyes did see, And a manchette of bread, and a good warm bed, And a cup o' the best shall thy guerdon be!" "Oh! I have been east, and I have been west, And I have seen many a wonderful sight; But never to me did it happen to see A wonder like that which I see this night! "To see a Lord Abbot, in rochet and stole, With Prior and Friar,--a strange mar-velle!-- O'er a jolly full bowl, sitting cheek by jowl, And hob-nobbing away with a Devil from Hell!" He felt in his gown of ginger brown, And he pulled out a flask from beneath; It was rather tough work to get out the cork, But he drew it at last with his teeth. O'er a pint and a quarter of holy water, He made a sacred sign; And he dashed the whole on the _soi-disant_ daughter Of old Plantagenet's line! Oh! then did she reek, and squeak, and shriek, With a wild unearthly scream; And fizzled, and hissed, and produced such a mist, They were all half-choked by the steam. Her dove-like eyes turned to coals of fire, Her beautiful nose to a horrible snout, Her hands to paws, with nasty great claws, And her bosom went in and her tail came out. On her chin there appeared a long Nanny-goat's beard, And her tusks and her teeth no man mote tell; And her horns and her hoofs gave infallible proofs 'Twas a frightful Fiend from the nethermost hell!