ing their oars
Merrily, and splash me too,
Laugh and grin with mischief rare
As the drops upon me flash.

Ah, these wenches fresh and strong,
Surely they could never be
Ghostly hell-cats, nor the maids
Of the dark queen Proserpine.

So that I might be assured
Of the girls' reality,
And unto myself might prove
My own honest flesh and blood,--

On their rosy dimples I
Swiftly pressed my eager lips,
And to this conclusion came:
Lo, I kiss; therefore I live!

When we reached the shore, again
Did I kiss these bonny maids,--
Kisses were the only coin
Which in payment they would take.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CANTO XIV

Joyous in the golden air
Lift the purple mountain heights
Where a daring hamlet clings
Like a nest against the steep.

Wearily I climbed and climbed.
When at last I stood aloft,
Then I found the old birds flown
And the fledglings left behind.

Pretty lads and lassies small
With their little heads half hid
In their white and scarlet caps,
Played at bridals in the mart.

Neither stay nor halt they brooked,
And the little love-lorn Prince
Of the Mice knelt down at once
To the Cat-King's daughter fair.

Hapless Prince! At last he's wed
To the Princess. How she scolds!
Bites him and devours him--
Hapless mouse!--thus ends the play.

That entire day I spent
With the children, and we talked
Cosily. They longed to know
Who I was? and what my trade?

"Germany, my dears," I spoke,
"Is my native country's name--
Bears are all too common there,
So I took to hunting bears!

"Many a bear-pelt have I pulled
Over many a bearish head,
Though, 'tis true, I sometimes got
Damage from their bearish paws.

"But at last I felt disgust
Of this strife with ill-licked boors
In my blessed land--I grew
Weary of these daily moils.

"So in quest of nobler game,
I at last have come to you;
I shall try my little strength
'Gainst the mighty Atta Troll.

"Worthy of me is this noble
Foe. In Germany, alas!
Many a battle did I win,
Most ashamed of victory."

When I left, the little folk
Danced about me in a ring,
And in sweetest wise they sang: