Page:Oriental Sketches Dramatic Sketches and Tales.pdf/93

Rh

She nurtures in her hovel roam abroad And dart at people's throats. She makes the owl To hoot around our houses. Snakes and frogs And slimy reptiles, birds of night, the bat, The croaking raven and the hedgehog grim, Creatures who fly from man, are with this hag Familiar, and in her spite she sends The will-o'wisp to guide the wanderer on To some deep bog: our hind was lantern-led But yesternight, and came home scared to death.

She fears nor heaven nor earth, is never seen At church or meeting: when she mumbles prayers, She says them backwards: she is heard to talk With mandrakes buried deep within the ground Who do her bidding. Out upon the witch— Ay to the river, down with her I say.

You will not be content until you have My life, you greedy blood hounds. Can I stir