Part 2 (2/2)

THE URISK.

O the night I met the Urisk on the wide, lone moor!

Ah! would I be forgetting of The Thing that came with me?

For it was big and black as black, and it was dour as dour, It shrank and grew and had no shape of aught I e'er did see.

For it came creeping like a cloud that's moving all alone, Without the sound of footsteps ... and I heard its heavy sighs ...

Its face was old and grey, and like a lichen-covered stone, And its tangled locks were dropping o'er its sad and weary eyes.

O it's never the word it had to say in anger or in woe-- It would not seek to harm me that had never done it wrong, As fleet--O like the deer!--I went, or I went panting slow, The waesome thing came with me on that lonely road and long.

O eerie was the Urisk that convoy'd me o'er the moor!

When I was all so helpless and my heart was full of fear, Nor when it was beside me or behind me was I sure-- I knew it would be following--I knew it would be near!

THE NIMBLE MEN.

(AURORA BOREALIS.)

When Angus Ore, the wizard, His fearsome wand will raise, The night is filled with splendour, And the north is all ablaze; From clouds of raven blackness, Like flames that leap on high-- All merrily dance the Nimble Men across the Northern Sky.

Now come the Merry Maidens, All gowned in white and green, While the bold and ruddy fellows Will be flitting in between-- O to hear the fairy piper Who will keep them tripping by!-- The men and maids who merrily dance across the Northern Sky.

O the weird and waesome music, And the never-faltering feet!

O their fast and strong embraces, And their kisses hot and sweet!

There's a lost and languished lover With a fierce and jealous eye, As merrily flit the Nimble Folk across the Northern Sky.

So now the dance is over, And the dancers sink to rest-- There's a maid that has two lovers, And there's one she loves the best; He will cast him down before her, She will raise him with a sigh-- Her love so bright who danced to-night across the Northern Sky.

Then up will leap the other, And up will leap his clan-- O the lover and his company Will fight them man to man-- All shrieking from the conflict The merry maidens fly-- There's a Battle Royal raging now across the Northern Sky.

Through all the hours of darkness The fearsome fight will last; They are leaping white with anger, And the blows are falling fast-- And where the slain have tumbled A pool of blood will lie-- O it's dripping on the dark green stones from out the Northern Sky.

When yon lady seeks her lover In the cold and pearly morn, She will find that he has fallen By the hand that she would scorn,-- She will clasp her arms about him, And in her anguish die!-- O never again will trip the twain across the Northern Sky.

MY GUNNA.

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