Ing. (After a pause, without changing his position, speaking to himself in deep abstraction.)
"Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one."
CICELY AND THE BEARS.
I.
"Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes! ding-dong!"
The bellman's voice is loud and strong;
So is his bell: "Oh, yes! ding-dong!"
He wears a coat with golden lace;
See how the people of the place
Come running to hear what the bellman says!
"Oh, yes! Sir Nicholas Hildebrand
Has just returned from the Holy Land,
And freely offers his heart and hand—
Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes! ding-dong!"
All the women hurry along,
Maids and widows, a clattering throng.
"Oh, sir, you are hard to understand!
To whom does he offer his heart and hand?
Explain your meaning, we do command!"
"Oh, yes! ding-dong! you shall understand!
Oh, yes! Sir Nicholas Hildebrand
Invites the ladies of this land
To feast with him, in his castle strong,
This very day at three. Ding-dong!
Oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes! ding-dong!"
Then all the women went off to dress,
Mary, Margaret, Bridget, Bess,
Patty, and more than I can guess.
They powdered their hair with golden dust,
And bought new ribbons—they said they must-
But none of them painted, we will trust.
Long before the time arrives,
All the women that could be wives
Are dressed within an inch of their lives.
