Poems By the Way Part 32

For somewhat that he could not name; And into his heart a hope there came.

And still he looked on the hands of the Maid, As before the fowl the crumbs she laid.

And he murmured low, "O Goldilocks!

Were we but amid the wheaten shocks!"

Then the false Queen knit her brows and laid A fair white hand by the hand of the Maid.

He turned his eyes away thereat, And closer to the Maiden sat.

But the queen-bird now the carle-bird fed Till all was gone of the sugared bread.

Then with wheedling voice for more he craved, And the Maid a share from the spice-loaf shaved;

And the crumbs within her hollow hand She held where the creeping doves did stand.

But Goldilocks, he looked and longed, And saw how the carle the queen-bird wronged.

For when she came to the hand to eat The hungry queen-bird thence he beat.

Then Goldilocks the Swain spake low: "Foul fall thee, bird, thou doest now

As I to Goldilocks, my sweet, Who gave my hungry mouth to eat."

He felt her hand as he did speak, He felt her face against his cheek.

He turned and stood in the evil hall, And swept her up in arms withal.

Then was there hubbub wild and strange, And swiftly all things there 'gan change.

The fair Queen into a troll was grown, A one-eyed, bow-backed, haggard crone.

And though the hall was yet full fair, And bright the sunshine streamed in there,

On evil shapes it fell forsooth: Swine-heads; small red eyes void of ruth;

And bare-boned bodies of vile things, And evil-feathered bat-felled wings.

And all these mopped and mowed and grinned, And sent strange noises down the wind.

There stood those twain unchanged alone To face the horror of the crone;

She crouched against them by the board; And cried the Maid: "Thy sword, thy sword!

Thy sword, O Goldilocks! For see She will not keep her oath to me."

Out flashed the blade therewith. He saw The foul thing sidelong toward them draw,

Holding within her hand a cup Wherein some dreadful drink seethed up.

Then Goldilocks cried out and smote, And the sharp blade sheared the evil throat.

The head fell noseling to the floor; The liquor from the cup did pour,

And ran along a sparkling flame That nigh unto their footsoles came.

Then empty straightway was the hall, Save for those twain, and she withal.

So fled away the Maid and Man, And down the stony stairway ran.

Fast fled they o'er the sunny gra.s.s Yet but a little way did pa.s.s

Ere cried the Maid: "Now cometh forth The snow-white ice-bear of the North;

Turn Goldilocks, and heave up sword!"

Then fast he stood upon the sward,

And faced the beast, that whined and cried, And shook his head from side to side.

But round him the Swain danced and leaped, And soon the grisly head he reaped.

And then the ancient blade he sheathed, And ran unto his love sweet-breathed;

And caught her in his arms and ran Fast from that house, the bane of man.

Yet therewithal he spake her soft And kissed her over oft and oft,

Until from kissed and trembling mouth She cried: "The Dragon of the South!"

He set her down and turned about, And drew the eager edges out.

And therewith scaly coil on coil Reared 'gainst his face the mouth aboil:

The gaping jaw and teeth of dread Was dark 'twixt heaven and his head.

But with no fear, no thought, no word, He thrust the thin-edged ancient sword.

And the hot blood ran from the hairy throat, And set the summer gra.s.s afloat.

Then back he turned and caught her hand, And never a minute did they stand.

But as they ran on toward the wood, He deemed her swift feet fair and good.