«The moon shall rise. With greedy eyes
A fox shall pass that way.
I’ll have you bring that fox’s skin
Before the break of day!»
The Eastern sky dons red brocade,
The breathless mount returns
And, round the rider’s shoulders draped,
A pelt of red fox burns.
«Come, charmer, my reward I’ve earned!»
He called impatiently.
«Young man, you quite forget my terms:
This task was one of three.
«To horse again,» the maiden said,
«To horse again, and ride!
A cup of pearls from the ocean bed
Is what you must provide.»
The pearls in his broad palm he cupped,
Onto the porch he stepped.
«Come, my beloved, open up!
My promise I have kept.»
«Control your ardour, mountain youth!
How dare you make so free!
For, more than wealth, I honour truth:
My wishes they were three.»
«Then tell me quickly, maid, what more
To bring and whither roam?»
«Now step through this wide open door
Into my maiden home!
«But first, ere ever we embrace,
You, mountain youth, must swear
That you’ll forget your mother’s face,
Your father’s greying hair!
«Make haste, my love, to pledge your word,
Surrender to my charms
And swiftly as a sheath the sword
I’ll take you in my arms.
«Swear, handsome youth! Beneath my roof
In carefree bliss abide!
Whither, my love?»
The thunder of
His horse’s hooves replied.
VERSE STEALERS
I need a shepherd lad or two
Who would not be averse
To beating off the brigands who
Are fond of stealing verse.
Once from a book of mine did not
The rogues eight verses wrest
And, like quadrigas, drive them off—
Two chariots, four abreast?
The loss embittered me, of course,
And now in bright sunshine,
Like thieves who steal a rider’s horse,
They’ve grabbed another line!
Look, in captivity her stance
Has changed; her sheen has, too.
For she is on a different ranch
And dyed a different hue.