THE LAY OF SAINT LINGO. 



189 



He the very dreadful Monster, 

 He the terrible Devourer. 

 In his field a fire is smoking ; 

 Thither go and fetch a firebrand." 

 Then the Brothers went a little, 

 Went a very little, onwards ; 

 Thence returned, and said to Lingo 

 " Nowhere saw we Eikad Gowree, 

 Nowhere have we found this Giant." 

 Then said Lingo, " Lo my arrow, 

 By its pathway see ye follow." 

 Then he fitted to his bowstring 

 Shaft of bulrush straight and slender ; 

 Shot it through the forest thickets, 

 Shot it cleaving through the branches, 

 Shot it shearing all the grass down ; 

 Cut a pathway straight and easy ; 

 Fell it right into the fireplace 

 Of the Giant Eikad Gowree ; 

 Fell, and glanced it from the fireplace, 

 Glanced, and sped into the doorway 

 Of the wigwam of the Giant ; 

 Fell before the seven daughters, 

 Seven very nice young women, 

 Daughters fair of Eikad Gowree. 

 Then those seven nice young women 

 Took the arrow and concealed it. 

 For they oft had asked the old man, 

 Asked him when they would be mar- 

 ried; 

 And he always answered gruffly, 

 11 When I choose that you be married 

 Good and well, if not you won't be." 

 And they thought this was an omen. 

 Now the Brothers, greatly fearing 

 Lest they all should eaten up be, 

 Counsel taking, sent the youngest, 

 Sent Ahkeseral the youngest, 

 To prospect the Giant's quarters. 

 By that pathway straight and easy 

 Went this very young Ahkeseral ; 

 Saw the Giant's smoke ascending ; 

 Coming nearer saw the Giant. 

 Saw him, like a shapeless tree trunk, 

 Sleeping by the fire and snoring 

 By the fire of mighty tree stems, 



Stems of Mohwa, stems of Anjan, 

 Stems of Sajna, stems of Tekta ; 

 Blazing red, its glow reflected 

 From that form huge and shapeless 

 Of the Giant Eikad Gowree, 

 Of that very dreadful Bakshis, 

 Of that terrible Devourer. 

 Then his knees began to quake all, 

 O'er his body came cold shudders, 

 Leapt his liver to his throat all, 

 Leapt the liver of Ahkeseral. 

 But he crept up to the fireplace, 

 Crept and snatched a blazing firebrand, 

 Blazing brand of Tamadita. 

 Groaned the Giant, fled Ahkeseral, 

 Dropped the firebrand, and a spark 



flew, 

 Flew and lighted on the Giant, 

 On his shapeless hip it lighted. 

 Eaised a blister like a saucer ; 

 Started up the Giant swearing ; 

 Also feeling very hungry, 

 Feeling very much like eating. 

 Saw that very young Ahkeseral, 

 Plump and luscious as a cucumber, 

 Saw him running and ran after, 

 Ean and shouted loud behind him. 



But in vain he followed after. 

 For the very young Ahkeseral, 

 Speeding swiftly through the forest, 

 Shortly vanished and was seen not. 

 And the Giant, much disgusted, 

 Then returned to his fireside. 

 And Ahkeseral, returning, 

 Told his greatly trembling brothers 

 Of that very dreadful Giant. 

 But the very valiant Lingo 

 Said, u Eepose ye here a little, 

 I will go and see this monster 

 That so much has discomposed you." 



At the crossing of a river, 

 In that straight and easy pathway, 

 Lingo saw the stick Waduda 

 Floating down upon the current. 

 Saw he too a bottle-gourd tree, 

 Saw it growing by the river ; 



