Never a barefoot maid did he see, But a gay and gallant company.

He sat upon the golden throne, And beside him sat the Queen alone.

Kind she was, as she loved him well, And many a merry tale did tell.

But nought he laughed, nor spake again, For all his life was waste and vain.

Cold was his heart, and all afraid To think on Goldilocks the Maid.

Withal now was the wedding dight When he should wed that lady bright.

The night was gone, and the day was up When they should drink the bridal cup.

And he sat at the board beside the Queen, Amidst of a guest-folk well beseen.

But scarce was midmorn on the hall, When down did the mirk of midnight fall.

Then up and down from the board they ran, And man laid angry hand on man.

There was the cry, and the laughter shrill, And every manner word of ill.

Whoso of men had hearkened it, Had deemed he had woke up over the Pit.

Then spake the Queen o'er all the crowd, And grim was her speech, and harsh, and loud:

"Hold now your peace, ye routing swine, While I sit with mine own love over the wine!

For this dusk is the very deed of a foe, Or under the sun no man I know."

And hard she spake, and loud she cried Till the noise of the bickering guests had died.

Then again she spake amidst of the mirk, In a voice like an unoiled wheel at work:

"Whoso would have a goodly gift, Let him bring aback the sun to the lift.

Let him bring aback the light and the day, And rich and in peace he shall go his way."

Out spake a voice was clean and clear: "Lo, I am she to dight your gear;

But I for the deed a gift shall gain, To sit by Goldilocks the Swain.

I shall sit at the board by the bridegroom's side, And be betwixt him and the bride.

I shall eat of his dish, and drink of his cup, Until for the bride-bed ye rise up."

Then was the Queen's word wailing-wild: "E'en so must it be, thou Angel's child.

Thou shalt sit by my groom till the dawn of night, And then shalt thou wend thy ways aright."

Said the voice, "Yet shalt thou swear an oath That free I shall go though ye be loth."

"How shall I swear?" the false Queen spake: "Wherewith the sure oath shall I make?"

"Thou shalt swear by the one eye left in thine head, And the throng of the ghosts of the evil dead."

She swore the oath, and then she spake: "Now let the second dawn awake."

And e'en therewith the thing was done; There was peace in the hall, and the light of the sun.

And again the Queen was calm and fair, And courteous sat the guest-folk there.

Yet unto Goldilocks it seemed As if amidst the night he dreamed;

As if he sat in a gra.s.sy place, While slim hands framed his hungry face;

As if in the clearing of the wood One gave him bread and apples good;

And nought he saw of the guest-folk gay, And nought of all the Queen's array.

Yet saw he betwixt board and door, A slim maid tread the chequered floor.

Her gown of green so fair was wrought, That clad her body seemed with nought

But blossoms of the summer-tide, That wreathed her, limbs and breast and side.

And, stepping towards him daintily, A basket in her hand had she.

And as she went, from head to feet, Surely was she most dainty-sweet.

Love floated round her, and her eyes Gazed from her fairness glad and wise;

But babbling-loud the guests were grown; Unnoted was she and unknown.

Now Goldilocks she sat beside, But nothing changed was the Queenly bride;

Yea too, and Goldilocks the Swain Was grown but dull and dazed again.

The Queen smiled o'er the guest-rich board, Although his wine the Maiden poured;

Though from his dish the Maiden ate, The Queen sat happy and sedate.

But now the Maiden fell to speak From lips that well-nigh touched his cheek:

"O Goldilocks, dost thou forget?

Or mindest thou the mirk-wood yet?