THE LAY OF SAINT LINGO. 



191 



When they heard about the young 



men, 

 Of those young men faint and fasting 

 Waiting fireless by the Eohees, 

 Forthwith packed they up their ward- 

 robes, 

 On their heads they took their beds up, 

 Back to Lingo gave his arrow 

 Arrow of the truthful omen 

 Saying good-bye to their parent, 

 Followed Lingo to the forest, 

 To that forest- shade primeval. 

 Eeached those young men by the 



Eohees, 

 Made a fire, and had some luncheon 

 Of the livers of the Eohees. 



Then the Brothers 'gan to squabble 

 O'er those seven nice young women. 

 Holy Lingo, virtuous very, 

 Quite refusing to be wedded, 

 Somewhat easier made the problem ; 

 And he soon arranged it this wise 

 That the eldest of the brethren 

 Each should take two nice young 



women, 

 While the very young Ahkeseral 

 Should be fitted with the odd one. 

 Then returning from the forest, 

 By the valley Kachikopa, 

 To the Eed Hills Lahugada, 

 Holy Lingo joined the Brothers 

 To those seven nice young women, 

 To the daughters of the Giant. 

 Water brought and poured it o'er them, 

 Bowers of branches raised around 



them, 

 Garlands gay he threw about them, 

 Mark of Turmeric applied he 

 And declared them duly wedded. 

 Then the Brothers mighty pleased 

 were 

 With their good and virtuous Lingo ; 

 Said they'd go forth to the forest, 

 Go and smite the bounding red-deer, 

 Bring its liver to their Lingo, 

 Gather wild flowers for their Lingo, 



While those Sisters seven should swing 



him, 

 Swing him gently as he slumbered. 

 Then their bows and arrows took they, 

 Took and started to the forest. 

 And the sisters swinging Lingo 

 Thus began to say among them 

 1 ' See this Lingo ! who so solemn 

 As this brother of our husbands ? 

 Neither laughs he, neither speaks he, 

 Neither looks he even at us. 

 He must laugh, and speak, and 



gambol, 

 Must this very solemn Lingo ; 

 Let us pinch and pull and hug him." 

 And they pulled him by the arms, 

 Pulled his feet and pinched his arms ; 

 But the more they pulled and pinched 



him 

 All the sounder slept our Lingo. 

 Till the sisters, vexed to find him 

 Nothing caring for their toying, 

 Took to hugging rather closely, 

 Hugged that very virtuous Lingo, 

 Till they woke him from his sleeping. 

 Wrathful then was holy Lingo, 

 At those wanton Giant's daughters; 

 Eose the flame of indignation 

 From his boots up to his topknot ; 

 Looked about him for a weapon, 

 For a weapon to chastise them ; 

 Saw a pestle hard and heavy, 

 Pestle made for husking rice with ; 

 Bounded from his swing and seized it, 

 With it thrashed those Giant's daugh- 

 ters; 

 Thrashed them till they bellowed 



loudly, 

 Fled and roared like Bulls of Bashan, 

 Fled and hid them in their wigwams. 

 Soon the Brothers back returning, 

 Bringing game and bringing wild 



flowers, 

 Found their Lingo quietly sleeping ; 

 Sisters none his swing were rocking. 

 Much astonished, they betook them 



