Second Fairy Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legg'd spinners, hence ; Beetles black, approach not near; Worm, nor snail, do no offence. Chorus Philomel with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Come our lovely lady nigh! So good-night, with lullaby. W. Shakespeare CXXXI LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR Lord Thomas he was a bold forester, And a chaser of the king's deer; Fair Ellinor was a fine woman, And Lord Thomas he loved her dear. 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' he said, 6 And riddle us both as one; Whether I shall marry with fair Ellinor, 'The brown girl she has got houses and land, As it befell on a high holiday, Lord Thomas he went to fair Ellinor, But when he came to fair Ellinor's bower, He knocked there at the ring; But who was so ready as fair Ellinor For to let Lord Thomas in. 'What news, what news, Lord Thomas?' she said, 'What news hast thou brought unto me?' 'I am come to bid thee to my wedding, And that is bad news for thee.' 'O, God forbid, Lord Thomas,' she said, I thought to have been thy bride my own self, 'Come riddle my riddle, dear mother,' she said, Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's wedding, 'There are many that are your friends, daughter, And many that are your foe; Therefore I charge you on my blessing, 'There's many that are my friends, mother And if a thousand more were my foe, Betide my life, betide my death, To Lord Thomas's wedding I'll go.' She clothed herself in gallant attire, But when she came to Lord Thomas's gate, But who was so ready as Lord Thomas, 'Is this your bride ?' fair Ellinor said; 'Despise her not, fair Ellin,' he said, For better I love thy little finger, This brown bride had a little penknife, 'Now Heaven save thee,' Lord Thomas he said, 'Methinks thou look'st wondrous wan: Thou used to look with as fresh a colour, As ever the sun shined on.' 'O, art thou blind, Lord Thomas?' she said, O, dost thou not see my own heart's blood Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side; As he walked about the hall, He cut off his bride's head from her shoulders, He set the hilt against the ground, Old Ballad CXXXII QUEEN MAB O then, I see, Queen Mab hath been with you. On courtiers' knees that dream on court'sies straight; CXXXIII YOUNG LOCHINVAR O, young Lochinvar is come out of the West! He stay'd not for brake and he stopt not for stone; He swam the Eske river where ford there was none; But ere he alighted at Netherby gate, The bride had consented; the gallant came late; So bravely he enter'd the Netherby Hall, Among bridesmen and kinsmen and brothers and all, 'I long woo'd your daughter, my suit you denied; Love swells like the Solway, but ebbs like its tide; |