| |
| TO the woods, to the woods is the wizard gone; | |
| In his grotto the maiden sits alone. | |
| She gazes up with a weary smile | |
| At the rafter-hanging crocodile, | |
| The slowly swinging crocodile. | 5 |
| Scorn has she of her master’s gear, | |
| Cauldron, alembic, crystal sphere, | |
| Phial, philtre—“Fiddlededee | |
| For all such trumpery trash!” quo’ she. | |
| “A soldier is the lad for me; | 10 |
| Hey and hither, my lad! | |
| |
| “Oh, here have I ever lain forlorn: | |
| My father died ere I was born, | |
| Mother was by a wizard wed, | |
| And oft I wish I had died instead— | 15 |
| Often I wish I were long time dead. | |
| But, delving deep in my master’s lore, | |
| I have won of magic power such store | |
| I can turn a skull—oh, fiddlededee | |
| For all this curious craft!” quo’ she. | 20 |
| “A soldier is the lad for me; | |
| Hey and hither, my lad! | |
| |
| “To bring my brave boy unto my arms, | |
| What need have I of magic charms— | |
| ‘Abracadabra!’ and ‘Prestopuff’? | 25 |
| I have but to wish, and that is enough. | |
| The charms are vain, one wish is enough. | |
| My master pledged my hand to a wizard; | |
| Transformed would I be to toad or lizard | |
| If e’er he guessed—but fiddlededee | 30 |
| For a black-browed sorcerer, now,” quo’ she. | |
| “Let Cupid smile and the fiend must flee; | |
| Hey and hither, my lad.” | |
| |
