Transcriber's note:
The original hyphenation, spelling, and use of accented words hasbeen retained. Missing page numbers are page numbers that were notshown in the original text.
LAYS AND LEGENDS
(SECOND SERIES)
BY
E. NESBIT
(Mrs. Hubert Bland)
AUTHOR OF "LAYS AND LEGENDS," "LEAVES OF LIFE,"
ETC.
WITH PORTRAIT
LONDON
LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET
1892
[All Rights reserved]
My thanks are due to the Editors and Publishers who
have kindly allowed me to use here verses written
for them.
TO
ALICE HOATSON,
HELEN MACKLIN,
AND
CHARLOTTE WILSON,
In token of indebtment.
ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY PRESS
BRIDAL BALLAD.
"Come, fill me flagons full and fair
Of red wine and of white,
And, maidens mine, my bower prepare—
It is my wedding night.
"And braid my hair with jewels bright,
And make me fair and fine—
This is the day that brings the night
When my desire is mine."
They decked her bower with roses blown,
With rushes strewed the floor,
And sewed more jewels on her gown
Than ever she wore before.
She wore two roses in her face,
Two jewels in her e'en,
Her hair was crowned with sunset rays,
Her brows shone white between.
"Tapers at the bed's foot," she saith,
"Two tapers at the head!"
It seemed more like the bed of death
Than like a bridal bed.
He came; he took her hands in his,
He kissed her on the face;
"There is more heaven in thy kiss
Than in our Lady's grace".
He kissed her once, he kissed her twice,
He kissed her three times o'er;
He kissed her brow, he kissed her eyes,
He kissed her mouth's red flower.
"O Love, what is it ails thy knight?
I sicken and I pine;
Is it the red wine or the white,
...