And she looked very cold While her lord the tale told; And then she made oath, by our Lady,-- Such wandering elves Might provide for themselves-- For she would get no supper ready! O the Miller waxed wroth, And vowed, by his troth,-- While the beggar slunk into a corner,-- If his termagant wife Did not end her ill strife, He would change words for blows, he'd forewarn her! O the lad he looked sly, And with mischievous eye, Cried, "Bridle your wrath, Goodman Grinder!-- Don't be in a pet,-- For I don't care a fret!-- Your wife, in a trice, will be kinder! "In the stars I have skill, And their powers, at my will, I can summon, with food to provide us: Say,--what d'ye choose? I pray, don't refuse:-- Neither hunger nor thirst shall betide us!" O the Miller he frowned, And rolled his eyes round, And seemed not the joke to be liking; But the lad did not heed: He was at his strange deed, And the table was chalking and striking! With scrawls straight and crookt, And with signs square and hookt, With the lord of each house, or the lady, The table he filled, Like a clerk 'ith' stars skilled,-- And, striking, cried "Presto! be ready!-- "A jug of spiced wine 'S in the box,--I divine! Ask thy wife for the key, and unlock it!-- Nay, stop!" the lad said; "We shall want meat and bread;" And the chalk took again from his pocket. O the lad he looked wise, And, in scholarly guise, Completed his horary question:-- "A brace of roast ducks Thou wilt find in the box, With the wine--sure as I am a Christian!-- "And a white wheaten loaf;-- Quick! proceed to the proof!"-- Cried the beggar,--while Grist stood stark staring;-- Though the lad's weasel eyes Shone so wondrously wise, That to doubt him seemed sin over-daring! O the Miller's wife, Joan, Turning pale, 'gan to groan; But the Miller, arousing his spirits, Said, "Hand me the key, And our luck we will see-- A faint heart no fortune inherits." But,--Gramercy!--his looks-- When he opened the box, And at what he saw in it stood wondering! How his sturdy arm shook, While the wine-jug he took, And feared he would break it with blundering! Faith and troth! at the last, On the table Grist placed The wine and the ducks--hot and smoking! Yet he felt grievous shy His stomach to try With cates of a wizard's own cooking! But, with hunger grown fell, The lad sped so well, That Grist was soon tempted to join in; While Joan sat apart, And looked sad at heart, And some fearful mishap seemed divining! O the lad chopped away, And smiling so gay, Told stories to make his host merry:-- How the Moon kittened stars,-- And how Venus loved Mars, And often went to see him in a wherry!