I HAVE piercing eyes—the eyes of falcons: I am of undoubted noble lineage: I can read the heart of Osman Aga: I was ask’d by Osman Aga’s mother: “Cursed witch: and yet most lovely maiden! Why with white and red dost paint thy visage? Fascinate no longer Osman Aga! I will speed me to the verdant forest, Build me up of maple-trees a dwelling, And lock up within it Osman Aga.” Then the maid replied to Osman’s mother: “Lady Anka! Osman Aga’s mother— I have falcon eyes—and eyes of devils: With them I can ope thy maple dwelling— With them visit, too, thy Osman Aga.” BROTHERLESS SISTERS. TWO solitary sisters, who A brother’s fondness never knew, Agreed, poor girls, with one another, That they would make themselves a brother: They cut them silk, as snow-drops white; And silk, as richest rubies bright; They carved his body from a bough Of box-tree from the mountain’s brow; Two jewels dark for eyes they gave; For eyebrows, from the ocean’s wave They took two leeches; and for teeth Fix’d pearls above, and pearls beneath; For food they gave him honey sweet, And said, “Now live, and speak, and eat.” MISFORTUNES. ON the hill, the fir-tree hill, Grows a tall fir-tree: There a maiden, calm and still, Sits delightedly. To a youthful swain she pledges Vows: “O come to me: Lightly spring across the hedges: Come—but silently. Come at eve—lest harm betide thee. If any home thou seek, In our quiet dwelling hide thee; Not a whisper speak.” As he o’er the hedges sprung, Lo! a twig he tore: When the house-door ope he flung, Noisy was the door. When he enter’d in, there fell Shelves upon the floor, ’Twas the broken china’s knell— O the luckless hour! Then her mother comes afeard, Trips and cuts her knee; And her father burns his beard In perplexity. And the youth must quench the fire, And the maiden must retire. TIMIDITY. Lo! upon the mountain green Stands a fir tree tall and thin— ’Tis no fir tree—none at all— ’Tis a maiden thin and tall. Three long years the enamour’d one Fed upon her eyes alone; On the fourth, he sought the bliss Of the maiden’s primal kiss: “Why, thou witching maid! repel me— Why with foot of scorn dost tread, On my feet, my boots of red! Why despise me, maiden! tell me.”