Page:Collected poems vol 2 de la mare.djvu/38

 WAS autumn daybreak gold and wild,
 * While past St. Ann's grey tower they shuffled,

Three beggars spied a fairy-child
 * In crimson mantle muffled.

The daybreak lighted up her face
 * All pink, and sharp, and emerald-eyed;

She looked on them a little space,
 * And shrill as hautboy cried: —

"O three tall footsore men of rags
 * Which walking this gold morn I see,

What will ye give me from your bags
 * For fairy kisses three?"

The first, that was a reddish man,
 * Out of his bundle takes a crust:

"La, by the tombstones of St. Ann,
 * There's fee, if fee ye must!"

The second, that was a chestnut man,
 * Out of his bundle draws a bone:

"Lo, by the belfry of St. Ann,
 * And all my breakfast gone!"