He drank of the water so cool and clear, For thirsty and hot was he, And he sat down upon the bank Under the willow-tree. There came a man from the neighbouring town At the Well to fill his pail ; On the well-side he rested it, And he bade the Stranger hail. "Now art thou a bachelor, Stranger ?" quoth he, σε For an if thou hast a wife, The happiest draught thou hast drunk this day That ever thou didst in thy life. "Or has thy good woman, if one thou hast, Ever here in Cornwall been? For an if she have, I'll venture my life She has drunk of the Well of St. Keyne." "I have left a good woman who never was here," The Stranger he made reply, "But that my draught should be the better for that, I pray you answer me why?" "St. Keyne," quoth the Cornish-man, "many a time Drank of this crystal Well, And before the Angel summon'd her, "If the husband of this gifted Well Shall drink before his wife, A happy man henceforth is he, For he shall be master for life. "But if the wife should drink of it first,.. God help the husband then!" The Stranger stoopt to the Well of St. Keyne, "You drank of the Well I warrant betimes?" He to the Cornish-man said: But the Cornish-man smiled as the stranger spake, And sheepishly shook his head. "I hasten'd as soon as the wedding was done, And left my wife in the porch; But i'faith she had been wiser than me, For she took a bottle to church." 1798. BISHOP BRUNO. "Bruno, the Bishop of Herbipolitanum, sailing in the river of Danubius, with Henry the Third, then Emperor, being not far from a place which the Germanes call Ben Strudel, or the devouring gulfe, which is neere unto Grinon, a castle in Austria, a spirit was heard clamouring aloud, 'Ho, ho, Bishop Bruno, whither art thou travelling? but dispose of thyselfe how thou pleasest, thou shalt be my prey and spoil.' At the hearing of these words they were all stupified, and the Bishop with the rest crost and blest themselves. The issue was, that within a short time after, the Bishop, feasting with the Emperor in a castle belonging to the Countesse of Esburch, a rafter fell from the roof of the chamber wherein they sate, and strooke him dead at the table." Heywood's Hierarchie of the Blessed Angels. BISHOP BRUNO awoke in the dead midnight, And the sound it gave was his passing knell. Bishop Bruno smiled at his fears so vain, And Death was the porter that open'd the door. He started up at the fearful dream, And he heard at his window the screech-owl scream! Bishop Bruno slept no more that night,.. Oh! glad was he when he saw the day-light! Now he goes forth in proud array, For he with the Emperor dines to-day; That went with a nobler train than he. Before and behind his soldiers ride, The people throng'd to see their pride ; They bow'd the head, and the knee they bent, But nobody blest him as he went. So he went on stately and proud, When he heard a voice that cried aloud, "Ho! ho! Bishop Bruno! you travel with glee, .. But I would have you know, you travel to me!" |