Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/82

Rh “Half-blind the kern, and aged, all wizen, cold, and grey, A wolf is on the highroad, who hurries quick away.” “A wolf, Queen, is a danger who in the shade does go. At the thief who seeks the night-time I quick shall bend my bow.”

(She screams.) “Why did you scream, Dearvorgil, disturbing so my aim?” “My bodkin pierced me sorely, and that is all my blame.” “Then, cry out not so loudly, lest he should turn away.” “My lord has but to bid me, and ever I obey.”

“Look, kern, again, and answer, where creeps the lone she tries to wolf now?” “I see a king's plume waving by yonder oak-tree's bough. ”It is a hawk he watches, that is hanging there so low.“ ”Then at that bird of evil, dark death, I'll bend my bow.“

“Again you scream, Dearvorgil, and you would have him hear?” “A bat that flew across me was all that made me fear.” “The wolf speeds down the highroad all at your lady's cry, The hawk has spread his dark wings, and seeks another sky.”

“Why should we heed the grey hawk?—Let him fly off to his nest: Why should we heed the lone wolf?—Let him go in peace to rest.” “My lady, neither beast nor bird slunk round my home to-night; It is a high and haughty prince who rides away in fright.”