But he cried, “O light-haired lassie, you are bound to marry me!”
He clasped me round the middle small, he kissed me on the cheek,
He kissed me once, he kissed me twice—I could not stir or speak.
He kissed me twice, he kissed me thrice—but when he kissed again,
I called aloud upon the name of Him who died for men.
Sing, sing! ring, ring! pleasant Sabbath bells!
Chime, rime! chime, rime! through dales and dells!
Rime, ring! chime, sing! pleasant Sabbath bells!
Chime, sing! rime, ring! over heids and fells!
Oh faintly, faintly, faintly, calling men and maids to pray,
So faintly, faintly, faintly rang the bells far away;
And as I named the Blessed Name, as in our need we can,
The ugly green green gnome became a tall and comely man;
His hands were white, his beard was gold, his eyes were black as sloes,
His tunic was of scarlet woof, and silken were his hose;
A pensive light from Faëryland still lingered on his cheek,
18
