Lest his summons should be too perplexing.

But, I scorn to think harm!--
So pass by all alarm,
And trembling, and bustle, and terror,
Occasioned within:
The first stone at sin
Let him cast who, himself, hath no error!

In inquisitive mood,
The eaves-dropper stood,
By the wind-cracks still keeping his station;
Till, half-choked with fear,
A voice cried, "Who's there?"--
Cried the beggar, "Mary grant ye salvation!--

"I'm a poor beggar-lad,
Very hungry and sad,
Who have travelled in rain and in thunder;
I am soaked, through and through"--
Cried the voice, "Perhaps 'tis true--
But who's likely to help thee, I wonder?

"Here's a strange time of night
To put folk in a fright,
By waking them up from their bolsters!--
Honest folk, by Saint Paul!
Abroad never crawl,
At the gloom-hour of night--when the owl stirs!"

But the Miller now came,
And, hearing his dame
So sharply the beggar-lad scolding,
Said, "Open, sweet Joan!
And I'll tell thee, anon,--
When thy brown cheek, once more, I'm beholding,

"Why this poor lad is found
So late on our ground--
Haste, my pigeon!--for here there's hard bedding!"--
So the door was unbarred;--
But the wife she frowned hard,
As the lad, by the door, thrust his head in.

And she looked very cold
While her lord the tale told;
And then she made oath, by our Lady,--
Such wandering elves
Might provide for themselves--
For she would get no supper ready!

O the Miller waxed wroth,
And vowed, by his troth,--
While the beggar slunk into a corner,--
If his termagant wife
Did not end her ill strife,
He would change words for blows, he'd forewarn her!

O the lad he looked sly,
And with mischievous eye,
Cried, "Bridle your wrath, Goodman Grinder!--
Don't be in a pet,--
For I don't care a fret!--
Your wife, in a trice, will be kinder!

"In the stars I have skill,
And their powers, at my will,
I can summon, with food to provide us:
Say,--what d'ye choose?
I pray, don't refuse:--
Neither hunger nor thirst shall betide us!"

O the Miller he frowned,
And rolled his eyes round,
And seemed not the joke to be liking;
But the lad did not heed:
He was at his strange deed,
And the table was chalking and striking!

With scrawls straight and crookt,
A