And, where a fountain sprung,

She sate her down, unseen, to thread
The scarlet berry's mimic braid,

And while the beads she strung,
Like the blithe lark, whose carol gay
Gives a good-morrow to the day,
So lightsomely she sung.

VI.

Song.

"LORD WILLIAM was born in gilded bower The heir of Wilton's lofty tower;

Yet better loves Lord William now

To roam beneath wild Rookhope's brow:
And William has lived where ladies fair
With gawds and jewels deck their hair,
Yet better loves the dewdrops still
That pearl the locks of Metelill.

"The pious Palmer loves, I wis,
Saint Cuthbert's hallow'd beads to kiss;
But I, though simple girl I be,
Might have such homage paid to me;
For did Lord William see me suit
This necklace of the bramble's fruit,
He fain- -but must not have his will
Would kiss the beads of Metelill.

66

-

My nurse has told me many a tale,
How vows of love are weak and frail:
My mother says that courtly youth
By rustic maid means seldom sooth.
What should they mean? it cannot be,
That such a warning's meant for me,

Unearthly warrior of the wold,

Thou comest to chide mine accents bold,
My mother, Jutta, knows the spell,
At noon and midnight pleasing well
The disembodied ear;