But still it was a very pretty river,
    Or rather stream, as ever could be seen—­
  If not so wide as the great Guadalquiver,
    Its banks were nearly always clothed in green,
  (Save when in winter the winds made you shiver,)
    While the waves, bickering so bright and sheen,
  Put you in mind of Avon, Rhine, or Hellespont,
  Or any other stream to admire you’re wont.

  And round about the stream there were huge hillocks,
    And firs and mountains, houses too and farms;
  A maid lay on the grass—­her light and fair locks
    Were gently wound around her folded arms,
  While softly grazing near there stood a huge ox,
    And o’er her head an old oak threw its arms. 
  She was asleep, when, lo! the sound of horses’
  Feet woke her, and, behold, she saw two corses.

  At least she thought so—­but at last thought better
    ’Twould be for her to get up and go home;
  She got up quickly, and would soon have made her
    Way home, but that the men who had just come
  Spurr’d past her, and alighted when they met her,
    While she with her surprise was almost dumb;
  But soon spoke she, and bade them both disclose
  Their names—­to which one said, “I’m Richard Groze.”

  The next spoke not at first, but soon replied,
    “Pray wherefore are you so surprised, my dear? 
  And wherefore, likewise, have you not complied
    With my request, which I have sent in near
  Some good score letters? which you did deride,
    When they were forwarded by this man here.” 
  He pointed then to Groze, and then he sighed,
  “My dear, dear Jeannie, will you be my bride?”

  The which words when our Jeannie heard, she stared,
    And said, “What do you mean, John Fitzadree? 
  You talk of letters, but of them the laird
    Has never brought a single one to me;
  But when I’ve seen him I have never cared
    How soon he went, for he told me that ye
  Were either dead or faithless—­so he said
  I’d better wed the live, than mourn the dead.

  “And then he promis’d I should have six horses,
    Besides a coach, if I would be his bride;
  But I refus’d—­and he swore all his crosses
    Should soon be o’er, and something else beside
  And that’s the reason why I thought ye corses,
    When o’er the green this way I saw ye ride. 
  But now I see you’ve both served in the Lancers,
  Though on my word you look much more like dancers.”

  To which John answer’d, “Oh, the filthy fellow,
    I gave him letters to you, which he said
  He would deliver, were you ill or well.  Oh! 
    How I should like to knock him on the head,
  And would, but that would show I was quite mellow—­
    Besides, I see the coward has just fled,
  Has ta’en to horse, and got across the ford—­
  Hang him, that I should with him be so bored!”