Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/79

 And who may be thy mother, maid? There’s no one here, my maiden staid.”
 * Oh, sir, my stepmother’s in the town,
 * She went for her daughter to the town;
 * To-morrow they both come home.”

A forest and a widening plain, And see the rider comes again
 * From out the forest on snowy steed—
 * One hears the hoof-irons ring at his speed,
 * As he rides to the hamlet.

And by the hamlet down he sprang, And on the door knocks, bang, bang, bang.
 * Hola within, come open the door,
 * Let me see thy face, beloved, once more,
 * Oh, thou who art my treasure.”

Out came a granny, skin and bone: Ha! What brings you?” Harsh was her tone
 * I bring you a change in house,” he said.
 * I fain would your handsome daughter wed—
 * The one you call not your own.”

Ha! ha! your words are passing strange— Who would have thought of such a change!
 * Be welcome though, my honorable guest,
 * Unknown to me, I still bid you rest—
 * Come, tell me how you came here.”

Know I am king of all this land— I strayed here from my knightly band.
 * I'll give you silver, I’ll give you gold
 * For that daughter of yours—wealth untold,
 * For that beautiful spinner.”

Oh, master king, ’tis strange, most strange— Who would have thought of such a change!
 * We are not worthy, oh, master king,
 * To dare to think of such a thing;
 * We are poor, humble people.