I trow they did not part in scorn; "He does not love me for my birth, In there came old Alice the nurse, Said, "Who was this that went from thee?" "It was my cousin," said Lady Clare, "To-morrow he weds with me." “O God be thanked!” said Alice the nurse, "Are ye out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse," Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?" "As God's above," said Alice the nurse, "I speak the truth: you are my child. "The old Earl's daughter died at my breast; "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother," she said, "if this be true, To keep the best man under the sun "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret for your life, And all you have will be Lord Ronald's When you are man and wife." "If I'm a beggar born," she said, "I will speak out, for I dare not lie. Pull off, pull off, the broach of gold, And fling the diamond necklace by!" "Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, "But keep the secret all ye can." She said, "Not so: but I will know 66 Nay now, what faith?" said Alice the nurse, "The man will cleave unto his right." "And he shall have it," the lady replied, "Though I should die to-night." "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! 66 "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And bless me, mother, ere I go." She clad herself in a russet gown, She was no longer Lady Clare; The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower; "If I come drest like a village maid, "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours in word and in deed; "Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "Your riddle is hard to read." Oh, and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail: She looked into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. He laughed a laugh of merry scorn; He turned, and kissed her where she stood; "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood, 16 If you are not the heiress born, FAIRY SONG OVER hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon's sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green. The cowslips tall her pensioners be, In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy favors, In those freckles live their savors. I must go seek some dewdrops here, And hang a pearl in every cowslip's ear. Shakespeare. LULLABY FOR TITANIA First Fairy You spotted snakes with double tongue, Chorus Philomel with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; So good-night, with lullaby. Second Fairy Weaving spiders, come not here; Hence, you long-legged spinners, hence; Beetles black, approach not near; Worm, nor snail, do no offense. Chorus Philomel with melody Sing in our sweet lullaby; Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby! Never harm, nor spell, nor charm, Come our lovely lady nigh! So good-night, with lullaby. Shakespeare. |