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The ship it was launched; but in sight of the land Such a storm there did rise as no ship could withstand.

It bulged on a rock, and the waves rushed in fast: Round and round flew the Raven and cawed to the blast.

He heard the last shriek of the perishing souls-
See! see! o'er the top-mast the mad water rolls!
Right glad was the Raven, and off he went
fleet,

And Death riding home on a cloud he did meet,
And he thanked him again and again for this treat:
They had taken his all, and revenge it was
S. T. Coleridge

sweet.

XXX

ODE TO THE CUCKOO

Hail, beauteous stranger of the grove!
Thou messenger of spring!
Now Heaven repairs thy rural seat,
And woods thy welcome sing.

What time the daisy decks the green,
Thy certain voice we hear;

Hast thou a star to guide thy path,
Or mark the rolling year?

Delightful visitant, with thee
I hail the time of flowers,
And hear the sound of music sweet
From birds among the bowers.

The school-boy wandering through the wood
To pull the primrose gay,

Starts the new voice of spring to hear,
And imitates the lay.

What time the pea puts on the bloom

Thou fliest thy vocal vale,

An annual guest in other lands,
Another spring to hail.

Sweet bird thy bower is ever green,

Thy sky is ever clear;

Thou hast no sorrow in thy song,
No winter in thy year!

O could I fly, I'd fly with thee!
We'd make, with joyful wing,
Our annual visit o'er the globe,
Companions of the spring.

Michael Bruce.

XXXI

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE

Come listen to me, you gallants so free,

All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw That lived in Nottinghamshire.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the greenwood tree,

There he was aware of a brave young man
As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was cloth'd in scarlet red,

In scarlet fine and gay;

And he did frisk it over the plain,

And chanted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood
Amongst the leaves so gay,

There did he espy the same young man,
Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before
It was clean cast away;

And at every step he fetch'd a sigh,
'Alack and a well-a-day !'

Then stepp'd forth brave Little John,

And Midge, the miller's son,

Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he saw them come.

'Stand off, stand off!' the young man said, 'What is your will with me?'

'You must come before our master straight, Under yon greenwood tree.'

And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,

'O, hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me?'

'I have no money,' the young man said, 'But five shillings and a ring;

And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my wedding.

'Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she soon from me was tane,
And chosen to be an old knight's delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.'

'What is thy name?' then said Robin Hood,

'Come tell me without any fail:'

'By the faith of my body,' then said the young

man,

'My name it is Allin a Dale.'

'What wilt thou give me?' said Robin Hood,

'In ready gold or fee,

To help thee to thy true love again,

And deliver her unto thee?'

‘I have no money,' then quoth the young man,

'No ready gold nor fee,

But I will swear upon a book

Thy true servant for to be.'

'How many miles is it to thy true love?

Come tell me without guile :'

'By the faith of my body,' then said the young

man,

'It is but five little mile.'

Then Robin he hasted over the plain,

He did neither stint nor lin,

Until he came unto the church,

Where Allin should keep his wedding.

'What hast thou here?' the bishop then said,

'I prithee now tell unto me :'

'I am a bold harper,' quoth Robin Hood,

'And the best in the north country.'

'O welcome, O welcome,' the bishop he said. 'That music best pleaseth me ;'

'You shall have no music,' quoth Robin Hood, 'Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.'

With that came in a wealthy knight,

Which was both grave and old, And after him a finikin lass,

Did shine like the glistering gold.

'This is not a fit match,' quoth bold Robin Hood, 'That you do seem to make here,

For since we are come into the church,
The bride shall choose her own dear.'

Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;

When four-and-twenty bowmen bold

Came leaping over the lea.

And when they came into the churchyard,

Marching all on a row,

The very first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow.

'This is thy true love,' Robin he said,

'Young Allin as I hear say;

And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.'

'That shall not be,' the bishop he said,
'For thy word shall not stand;

They shall be three times asked in the church,
As the law is of our land.'

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