Page:The Ingoldsby Legends (Frowde, 1905).pdf/458

 He drew the mystic circle's bound,

With skull and cross-bones fenc'd around;

He traced full many a sigil there;

He mutter'd many a backward pray'r,

That sounded like a curse—

'He comes!'—he cried with wild grimace,

'The fellest of Apollyon's race!'—

—Then in his startled pupil's face

He dash'd—an !!

One more legend, and then, gentle Reader, 'A merry Christmas to you and a happy New Year!'—We have travelled over many lands together, and had many a good-humoured laugh by the way;—if we have, occasionally, been 'more merry than wise,' at least we have not jostled our neighbours on the road,—much less have we kicked any one into a ditch.

So wishing you heartily all the compliments of the season, and thanking you cordially for your good company, I, Thomas Ingoldsby, bid you heartily farewell, and leave you in that of

N good King Dagobert's palmy days,

When Saints were many, and sins were few,

Old Nick, 'tis said,

Was sore bested

One evening,—and could not tell what to do.—

He had been East, and he had been West,

And far had he journey'd o'er land and sea;

For women and men

Were warier then,

And he could not catch one where he'd now catch three.