My lengthen'd silence vex'd the maidens sore: "Wilt thou detain us here the live-long night, Or must we, stripling, proffer something more? "Taught by us, thou shalt bind the rugged bear,-- Seize on the mighty dragon's heap of gold,-- And slay the cockatrice while in her lair! "But from thy breast the blood we will suck out, Unless thou follow us beneath the mould! Decide, decide, nor longer pause in doubt!" Cold sweat I shed, and as, with trembling hand, I strove to whirl my beaming faulchion round, It sank, enthrall'd by magic's potent band. Each witch drew nigh, with dagger high uprear'd; Just then a cock, beyond the wild wood's bound, Crew loud--and in the earth they disappear'd. I flung myself upon my frighten'd barb, Just as the shades began to grow less murk, And sun-beams clad the sky in gayer garb. Let each young warrior from such places fly: Disease and death beneath the flowers lurk; And elves would suck the warm blood from his eye. THE HEDDYBEE-SPECTRE. FROM THE OLD DANISH. I clomb in haste my dappled steed, And gallop'd far o'er mount and mead; And when the day drew nigh its close, I laid me down to take repose. I laid me down to take repose, And slumbers sweet fell o'er my brows: And then, methought, as there I slept, From out the ground the dead man leapt. Said he, "If thou art valiant, Knight, My murder soon will see the light; For thou wilt ride to Heddybee, Where live my youthful brothers three: "And there, too, thou wilt surely find My father dear and mother kind; And there sits Kate, my much-loved wife, Who with her women took my life. "They chok'd me, as in bed I lay, Then wrapp'd me in a truss of hay; And bore me out at dead of night, And laid me in this lonely height. "The Groom, who lately clean'd my stall, Now struts and vapours through my hall,-- Eats gaily with my silver knife, And sleeps with Kate, my much-lov'd wife. "His place is highest at the board; But what is most to be deplor'd, He gives my babes so little bread, And mocks them now their sire is dead. "Clad in my clothes he proudly stalks Along the shady forest-walks; And, arm'd with bow and hunting spear, He shoots my birds and stabs my deer. "Were I alive, to meet him now, All underneath the linden bough, With no one nigh, my wrath to check, I'd wring his head from off his neck! "But hie thee hence to Heddybee, Where live my youthful brothers three; First tell them all--then stab the groom-- Allow my wife a milder doom." SIR JOHN. FROM THE OLD DANISH. Sir Lave to the island stray'd; He wedded there a lovely maid: "I'll have her yet," said John. He brought her home across the main, With knights and ladies in the train: "I'm close behind," said John. They plac'd her on the bridal seat; Sir Lave bade them drink and eat: "Aye: that we will," said John. The servants led her then to bed, But could not loose her girdle red! "I can, perhaps," said John.