YE WEARIE WAYFARER 



What business had '' this child " there to ride ? 



But little or none at all ; 

 Yet I held my own for a while in **the pride 



That goeth before a fall." 

 Though rashness can hope for but one result, 



We are heedless when fate draws nigh us, 

 And the maxim holds good, " Qiieni perdere 

 vult 



Deus, elemental prius.'' 



The right hand man to the left hand said, 



As down in the vale we went, 

 *' Harden your heart like a millstone, Ned, 



And set your face as flint : 

 Solid and tall is the rasping wall 



That stretches before us yonder ; 

 You must have it at speed or not at all, 



'Twere better to halt than to ponder, 

 For the stream runs wide on the take-off side. 



And washes the clay bank under ; 

 Here goes for a pull, 'tis a madman's ride. 



And a broken neck if you blunder." 



No word in reply his comrade spoke, 

 Nor waver'd, nor once look'd round, 



19 



