THE ENCHANTED MAID.
A Bohemian legend of the fifteenth century.
The forest leaves were bright and green,
And soft the zephyr blew.
The mountain peaks were lost to view,
In clouds of pearly gray.
With happy steps two Checkish boys
Went singing of their many joys,
As through the wood they went.
They might have been two happy guests
Upon a wedding bent.
They sang of love, they sang of woe,
With voices high and sweet;
And oft they sang, that life is fleet,
And love as strong as death.
At length the eldest one said, “Wait
Here is a splendid tree that fate
Has thrown into our way.
We’ll cut it down and make ourselves
Two harps this sunny day."
They set about to cut that tree,
With boyish laughter wild.
And oft they sang, and oft they smiled,
As happily they plied.
But when they reached the inmost heart,
They both fell back as though a dart
Had struck their own young life,
For there a beauteous maiden stood
And begged of them her life.
