Reason and thought she had never known, Entranced the soul in its desolate grace. And hence the story had ever run That the fairest of dames was a Headless One. The pilgrim in his foreign weeds Would falter in his prayer; And the monk would pause with his half-told beads To breathe a blessing there; The knight would loose his visor-clasp, And drop the rein from his nerveless grasp, And pass his hand across his brow With a sudden sigh, and a whispered vow, And marvel Flattery's tale was told, From a lip so young, to an ear so cold. She had seen her sixteenth winter out, about: The Dragon, I told you, had dined that day; Earnestly looking, and looking long, With his appetite weak, and his wonder strong. Silent he lay in his motionless coil; And the song of the Lady was sweet the while : "Nonny nonny!-I hear it float, "Nonny nonny!-'Lillian sings But surely Sir Launcelot never heard The Dragon he lay in mute amaze, Till something of kindness crept into his gaze; He drew the flames of his nostrils in, He veiled his claws with their speckled skin, He curled his fangs in a hideous smile; And the song of the Lady was sweet the while: "Nonny nonny!-who shall tell Where the summer breezes dwell? Lightly and brightly they breathe and blow, But whence they come and whither they go, "Nonny nonny!-I hear your tone, A moment! and the Dragon came She had won his heart, while she charmed his ear, (Never a queen had a gaudier throne), And fairy-like she sits and sings, Guiding the steed with a touch and a tone. Aloft, aloft in the clear blue ether, The dame and the Dragon they soared together; He bore her away on the breath of the gale— The two little dwarfs held fast by the tail. Fanny! a pretty group for drawing; My dwarfs in a fright, and my girl in an attitude, Patting the beast in her soulless gratitude. There; you may try it if you will, While I drink my coffee, and nib my quili. END OF CANTO 1 LILLIAN. CANTO II. THE sun shone out on hill and grove; It was a glorious day; The lords and the ladies were making love, And the clowns were making hay; But the Town of Brentford marked with wonder And thinking ('twas a thinking town) A mighty mob to Merlin went "Now the Slayer doth not slay, Are ye Lovers? are ye brave? |