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THE FISHERMAN'S HUT.

The boy flies homeward: "Mother dear,
Send me not out again!

The storm did howl, and the wind did blow,
And the torch went out in the rain."

"O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou!

What cares a brisk young sailor's blood
How wild the tempests blow!"

The boy sets fire to the torch,

He hastens to the shore;

The tempest howls, the rain pours down,
The torch goes out once more.

The boy flies home: "O mother dear,
Send me not to the strand!

There's a white woman sitting there,
And beckoning with her hand!"

"O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou!

Naught does the brave warm sailor's blood
For mermaid care, I trow!"

The boy sets fire to the torch,

And hastens to the shore;

The tempest howls, the rain pours down,
The torch dies yet once more.

The boy flies home: "O mother, go
Thyself now to the shore!

I hear a voice like father's rise

Through all the ocean's roar."

The mother quickly lifts the torch,
And sets the hut on fire;

The tempest howls, the lurid flame
Shines brighter, broader, higher.

"What hast thou done? O mother, woe!
Hear'st thou the tempest's roar !
How cold the night, how dark and wild,
And we've a home no more."

"O sailor's blood! O sailor's blood!
No sailor's blood art thou !

Boy, when no other torch will burn,
The hut shines well, I trow."

The father safely steers his ship
Right to the blazing strand,
Weathers the ledges all, and soon
In safety reached the land.

C. T. BROOKS.

COUNT ARNALDOS.

A literal translation in the metre of the original.

WHO

had ever such adventure,

On the waters of the sea,

As had once the Count Arnaldos
On the morning of Saint John?
He was going to the hawking,
With a falcon on his wrist,

25

COUNT ARNALDOS.

When at sea he saw a galley
Slowly drawing near the land.
All her sails of woven silk were;
Glistening silk the cordage all;
And the mariner who steered her
Ever sang so sweet a song
That it held the billows quiet,
And it pacified the wind,
And the fishes rose to listen,
And the birds lit on the mast.
"Galley," sang he, "O my galley,
May God keep thee from all harm,
From all dangers that await thee
On the waters of the sea;
From the shallows of Almeria,
From Gibraltar's narrow strait,
From the stormy gulf of Leon,
And the false Venetian sea;
From the sunken reefs of Flanders,
Where the peril is most dire."
Then spake out the Count Arnaldos
(You shall hear the words he said):
"In the name of God, O seaman,

COUNT ARNALDOS.

WHO

From the Spanish.

I.

HO had ever such adventure,
Holy priest or virgin nun,

As befel the Count Arnaldos

At the rising of the sun?

II.

On his wrist the hawk was hooded,

Forth with horn and hound went he, When he saw a stately galley

Sailing on the silent sea.

III.

Sail of sattin, mast of cedar;

Burnished poop of beaten gold, — Many a morn you'll hood your falcon, Ere you such a bark behold.

IV.

Sails of sattin, masts of cedar,
Golden poops, may come again;
But mortal ear no more shall listen
To yon gray-haired sailor's strain.

V.

Heart may beat, and eye may glisten, Faith is strong, and hope is free; But mortal ear no more shall listen To the song that rules the sea.

COUNT ARNALDOS.

VI.

When the gray-haired sailor chanted,
Every wind was hush'd to sleep, —
Like a virgin's bosom panted
All the wide reposing deep.

VII.

Bright in beauty rose the star-fish
From her green cave down below,
Right above the eagle poised him, –
Holy music charmed them so.

VIII.

"Stately galley! glorious galley!
God hath pour'd his grace on thee!
Thou alone may'st scorn the perils
Of the dread devouring sea!

IX.

"False Almeria's reefs and shallows,
Black Gibraltar's giant rocks,

Sound and sand-bank, gulf and whirlpool,
All my glorious galley mocks!"

X.

"For the sake of God our maker!

(Count Arnaldos' cry was strong,)

"Old man, let me be partaker

In the secret of thy song!"

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