And, upon her mother’s knee, A maiden decked with all her charms. But I from house to house must go, And wherever my eyes by my feet are borne, To the muse at night and morn For those who do or don’t bestow, The mellow words of song shall flow. Come then, good folks, your plenty share, O give, my prince! and maiden fair, Be bountiful to-day. Sooth, custom bids ye all to throw Whole handfulls to the begging crow; At least give something; say not, no, And we will go our way. ----- Footnote 376: Athen. viii. 59. ----- In Rhodes another kind of begging, which usually took place in the month of March, was denominated Chelidonizein;[377] or, to sing the SONG OF THE SWALLOW. The swallow is come, and with her brings A year with plenty overflowing; Freely its rich gifts bestowing, The loveliest of lovely springs. She is come, she is come, To her sunny home. And white is her breast as a beam of light, But her back and her wings are as black as night; Then bring forth your store, Bring it out to the door, A mass of figs, or a stoop of wine, Cheese, or meal, or what you will, Whate’er it be we’ll not take it ill: Even an egg will not come amiss, For the swallow’s not nice When she wishes to dine. Come, what shall we have? Say, what shall it be? For we will not go, Though time doth flee, Till thou answerest Yes, or answerest No. But if thou art churlish we’ll break down the gate, And thy pretty wife we’ll bear away; She is small, and of no great weight. Open, open, then we say. Not old men but boys are we, And the swallow says,—“Open to me.” ----- Footnote 377: Athen. viii. 60. In the warmer atmosphere of the volcanic islands of Lipari, the swallow has, by modern naturalists, been found stationary. Spallanzani, Travels in the Two Sicilies, i. Introd. p. 32. -----