Part 14 (1/2)

Suddenly his ears he raised,

And in strangest wise they twitched!

Then from up his couch he sprang Trembling, bellowing with joy: ”Children! do you hear that voice!

”Are not those the dulcet tones Of your mother? Do I not My dear Mumma's grumbles know?-- Mumma! Mumma! precious mate!”

Like a madman with these words From the cave rushed Atta Troll Swift to his destruction--oh!

To his ruin straight he plunged.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CANTO XXIV

In the Vale of Roncesvalles, On that very spot where erst Charlemagne's great nephew fell, Gasping forth his warrior soul,

Fell and perished Atta Troll, Fell through ambush, even as he Whom that Judas of the Knights, Ganelon of Mainz, betrayed.

Oh! that n.o.blest trait in bears-- Conjugal affection--love-- Formed a pitfall which Uraka In her evil craft prepared.

For so truly mimicked she Coal-black Mumma's tender growls, That poor Atta Troll was lured From the safety of his lair.

On desire's wings he ran Through the valley, halting oft By a rock with tender sniff, Thinking Mumma there lay hid.

There Lascaro lay, alas, With his rifle. Swift he shot Through that gladsome heart a ball, And a crimson stream welled forth.

Twice or thrice he shakes his head To and fro, at last he sinks Groaning, seized with ghastly shudders;-- ”Mumma!” is his final sob!

Thus our n.o.ble hero fell-- Perished thus. Immortal he Yet shall live in strains of bards, Resurrected after death.

He shall rise again in song, And his wide renown shall stalk In this blunt trochaic verse O'er the round and living Earth.

In Valhalla's Hall a shaft Shall King Ludwig build for him,-- In Bavarian lapidary Style these words be there inscribed:

ATTA TROLL, REFORMER, PURE, PIOUS: HUSBAND WARM AND TRUE, BY THE ZEIT-GEIST LED ASTRAY-- WOOD-ENGENDERED SANS-CULOTTE:

DANCING BADLY: YET IDEALS BEARING IN HIS s.h.a.gGY BREAST: OFTTIMES STINKING VERY STRONGLY, TALENT NONE: BUT CHARACTER.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CANTO XXV

Three-and-thirty wrinkled dames, Wearing on their heads their Basque Scarlet hoods of ancient style, Stood beside the village gate.