ung again_!
The third she dandled, the fourth she hushed--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

The fifth upon her breast she plac'd,
_And were I only young again_!
And allowed the babe of the breast to taste--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

To her eldest daughter she turned her eye;
_And were I only young again_!
"Go call Swayne Dyring instantly"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

And when Swayne Dyring before her stood,
_And were I only young again_!
She spake to him thus in wrathful mood--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"I left behind both ale and bread;
_And were I only young again_!
My children with hunger are nearly dead--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"I left behind me bolsters blue;
_And were I only young again_!
Upon bare straw my babes I view--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"I left behind the big wax light;
_And were I only young again_!
My children lie in the murk at night--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"If again I'm forced to seek thee here,
_And were I only young again_!
Befall thee shall a fate so drear--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"But hark! the ruddy cock has crow'd,
_And were I only young again_!
The dead must return to their abode--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

"I hear, I hear the black cock crow;
_And were I only young again_!
The gates of heaven are opening now--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

The white cock claps his wings so wide,
_And were I only young again_!
No longer here I dare to bide"--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

Each time the dogs began to yell,
_And were I only young again_!
They gave the children bread and ale--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

As soon as they heard of the hounds the cry,
_And were I only young again_!
They feared the ghost was drawing nigh--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

Whene'er the dogs were heard to rave,
_And were I only young again_!
They feared the woman had left her grave--
_To honied words we list so fain_.

THE TRANSFORMED DAMSEL

I take my axe upon my back,
To fell the tree I mean;
Then came the man the wood who owned,
And thrust his heft between.

"If thou hew down my father's grove,
And me this damage do,
If I but see thee fell the tree
Thou dearly that shalt rue."

"O let me hew this single tree,
Nor to resist me seek;
Unless I yonder bird ob