Poems By the Way Part 30

"What lookest thou to see come forth?"

"Maybe a white bear of the North."

"Then shall my sharp sword lock his mouth."

"Nay," she said, "or a worm of the South."

"Then shall my sword his hot blood cool."

"Nay, or a whelming poison-pool."

"The trees its swelling flood shall stay, And thrust its venomed lip away."

"Nay, it may be a wild-fire flash To burn thy lovely limbs to ash."

"On mine own hallows shall I call, And dead its flickering flame shall fall."

"O Goldilocks my love, I fear That ugly death shall seek us here.

Look forth, O Goldilocks my love, That I thine hardy heart may prove.

What cometh down the stone-wrought stair That leadeth up to the castle fair?"

"Adown the doorward stair of stone There cometh a woman all alone."

"Yea, that forsooth shall my mistress be: O Goldilocks, what like is she?"

"O fair she is of her array, As. .h.i.therward she wends her way."

"Unlike her wont is that indeed: Is she not foul beneath her weed?"

"O nay, nay! But most wondrous fair Of all the women earth doth bear."

"O Goldilocks, my heart, my heart!

Woe, woe! for now we drift apart."

But up he sprang from the bramble-side, And "O thou fairest one!" he cried:

And forth he ran that Queen to meet, And fell before her gold-clad feet.

About his neck her arms she cast, And into the fair-built house they pa.s.sed.

And under the bramble-bushes lay Unholpen, Goldilocks the may.

Thenceforth a while of time there wore, And Goldilocks came forth no more.

Throughout that house he wandered wide, Both up and down, from side to side.

But never he saw an evil crone, But a full fair Queen on a golden throne.

Never a barefoot maid did he see, But a gay and gallant company.

He sat upon the golden throne, And beside him sat the Queen alone.

Kind she was, as she loved him well, And many a merry tale did tell.

But nought he laughed, nor spake again, For all his life was waste and vain.

Cold was his heart, and all afraid To think on Goldilocks the Maid.

Withal now was the wedding dight When he should wed that lady bright.

The night was gone, and the day was up When they should drink the bridal cup.

And he sat at the board beside the Queen, Amidst of a guest-folk well beseen.

But scarce was midmorn on the hall, When down did the mirk of midnight fall.

Then up and down from the board they ran, And man laid angry hand on man.

There was the cry, and the laughter shrill, And every manner word of ill.

Whoso of men had hearkened it, Had deemed he had woke up over the Pit.

Then spake the Queen o'er all the crowd, And grim was her speech, and harsh, and loud:

"Hold now your peace, ye routing swine, While I sit with mine own love over the wine!

For this dusk is the very deed of a foe, Or under the sun no man I know."

And hard she spake, and loud she cried Till the noise of the bickering guests had died.

Then again she spake amidst of the mirk, In a voice like an unoiled wheel at work:

"Whoso would have a goodly gift, Let him bring aback the sun to the lift.

Let him bring aback the light and the day, And rich and in peace he shall go his way."

Out spake a voice was clean and clear: "Lo, I am she to dight your gear;

But I for the deed a gift shall gain, To sit by Goldilocks the Swain.

I shall sit at the board by the bride-groom's side, And be betwixt him and the bride.

I shall eat of his dish and drink of his cup, Until for the bride-bed ye rise up."

Then was the Queen's word wailing-wild: "E'en so must it be, thou Angel's child.