mercy, on vengeance I'm bent,
Because all I cherished from me thou hast rent."

Then she drew forth the knife from her sleeve bloody red,
And Sir Loumor she stabbed till the life from him fled.

Then out from its cradle the little child spake:
"That deed, if I live, I will some day ywrake."

"I know that thou art of the very same blood,
And I never expect thou to me wilt be good."

The child by the small of the leg she has ta'en,
And against the bed side she has beat out its brain.

"Now I, the proud Signild, have slain man for man,
And I'll hie me away to my land and my clan."

THE DAMSEL OF THE WOOD

The Knight takes hawk, and the man takes hound,
And away to the good green-wood they rambled;
There beasts both great and small they found,
Amid the forest glades that gambol'd.

A hind 'neath a linden tree he spied,
A maid beneath the willows sitting;
The Knight outspread his mantle wide,
Within that spot for love so fitting.

And there throughout the night they lie,
And no one sought their rest to trouble;
The linden tree so charmingly
Conceals them with its foliage noble.

No sooner dawned the morning light,
And early cocks commenced their crowing,
The Damsel pats on his breast the knight:
"Sweet love, you must be up and going.

"Ride o'er the brig at full career,
And o'er the verdant meadows hurry;
My brothers seven you'll meet I fear,
So full of courage, strength, and fury."

"If seven or ten thy brothers be,
Each full of courage, strength, and beauty,
If a comrade good they seek in me
I trust I know a comrade's duty.

"And if me they'll have as a brother dear,
Their brother straight to be I'm willing;
But they shall win the victory ne'er
If bent my youthful blood on spilling."

"O dearest heart, with tears I pray
That thou wilt not go lightly nigh them,
But ride about another way,
Far distant off thou may'st descry them."

"O ne'er at court shall it be said
That I, a knight, for warriors seven,
Or ten times seven, the straight road fled,
To match them all I trust in heaven."

His sword to his side the warrior tied,
And then himself in his acton casing,
A fond adieu to the Damsel cried,
Who sadly stood behind him gazing.

The youth despising all alarms
With spur so keen his courser urges,
Seven knights he meets in burnished arms
From out the wood as he emerges.

"Ha, early met, thou warrior good,
Pray t