Part 2 (2/2)

So at the door, And soone before

But wherefore all this allant feat of horsemanshi+p Will be performed to-day

To eastward and to ard, The crowd divides a at the rein; And sorely do they labour, For the steed[009] is very strong, And backward moves its stubborn feet, And backward ever doth retreat, And drags its guides along

And now the knight hath ot the stirrups on his feet

The bridle in his hand

Yet, oh! beware, sir horseman!

And teot, Was never rid before!

The rabbits[010] bow before thee

And cower in the straw; The chickens[011] are submissive, And own thy will for law; Bullfinches and canary Thy bidding do obey; And e'en the tortoise in its shell Doth never say thee nay

But thy steed will hear no master, Thy steed will bear no stick, And woe to those that beat her, And woe to those that kick![012]

For though her rider smite her, As hard as he can hit, And strive to turn her froainst the pulling bit

And now the road to Dalton Hath felt their coone ahead

Yet often look they backward, And cheer him on, and bawl, For slower still, and still o, And scarce advance at all

And noo roads to choose froht: In front the road to Dalton, And New Croft upon the right

”I can't get by!” he bellows, ”I really ah I pull et him past this point, For it leads unto his stable!”

Then out spake Ulfrid Longbow,[013]

A valiant youth was he, ”Lo! I will stand on thy right hand And guard the pass for thee!”

And out spake fair Flureeza,[014]

His sister eke was she, ”I will abide on thy other side, And turn thy steed for thee!”

And now cole Between that steed and rider, For all the strength that he hath left Doth not suffice to guide her

Though Ulfrid and his sister Have kindly stopped the way, And all the crowd have cried aloud, ”We can't wait here all day!”

Round turned he as not deigning Their words to understand, But he slipped the stirrups frorasped the ained the road in triumph,[015]

And stood upon his feet

All firbow stood, And faced the foe right valiantly, As every warrior should

But when safe on terra firma His brother he did spy, ”What _did_ you do that for?” he cried, Then unconcerned he stepped aside And let it canter by