Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/182
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THE CZECHOSLOVAK REVIEW
“Get up; my boy, quick to your heel,
Take yonder golden spinning wheel;
Sell it at the house of the king,
But don’t trade it for anything
But for two human legs.”—
Take yonder golden spinning wheel;
Sell it at the house of the king,
But don’t trade it for anything
But for two human legs.”—
The boy ere long sat down to wait
And sell the wheel at the king’s gate.
And scarcely did the queen behold:
“I wish I had that wheel of gold,
That golden spinning wheel!”
And sell the wheel at the king’s gate.
And scarcely did the queen behold:
“I wish I had that wheel of gold,
That golden spinning wheel!”
“O mother dear, be quick and rise;
Go to the boy and ask the price!”
“O lady dear, step near and buy,
My father’s price is not too high:
’Tis but two human legs.”
Go to the boy and ask the price!”
“O lady dear, step near and buy,
My father’s price is not too high:
’Tis but two human legs.”
“Two human legs? Aye, that is queer!
But still I want it, mother dear.
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s legs lie on the floor;
Give them to him in trade.”
But still I want it, mother dear.
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s legs lie on the floor;
Give them to him in trade.”
The boy took the two legs with heed
And hastened to the woods in speed.—
“Bring me that water with life’s charm:
The body shall retain no harm,
But shall be as before.”
And hastened to the woods in speed.—
“Bring me that water with life’s charm:
The body shall retain no harm,
But shall be as before.”
As soon as wound to wound he laid,
A living fire flashed through the maid.
The limbs rejoined the trunk and heart
As though they had not been apart,
Retaining not a fault.
A living fire flashed through the maid.
The limbs rejoined the trunk and heart
As though they had not been apart,
Retaining not a fault.
“Get up, my boy, run through the vale:
I have a golden staff for sale.
Go to the castle of the king,
But don’t trade it for anything
But for two human arms.”
I have a golden staff for sale.
Go to the castle of the king,
But don’t trade it for anything
But for two human arms.”
The boy took near the gate his stand;
The distaff sparkled in his hand.
And scarcely did the queen behold:
“I wish I had that staff of gold
To my new spinning wheel!”
The distaff sparkled in his hand.
And scarcely did the queen behold:
“I wish I had that staff of gold
To my new spinning wheel!”
“O mother dear, hasten and rise;
Go, ask the boy the distaff’s price.”
“O lady dear, step near and buy,
My father’s price is not too high:
’Tis but two human arms.”
Go, ask the boy the distaff’s price.”
“O lady dear, step near and buy,
My father’s price is not too high:
’Tis but two human arms.”
“Two human arms? Why that is queer!
But still I want it, mother dear!
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s arms lie on the floor,
Give them to him in trade.”
But still I want it, mother dear!
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s arms lie on the floor,
Give them to him in trade.”
The boy received the arms with heed
And hastened to the woods in speed.—
“Bring me that water with life’s charm;
The body shall retain no harm,
But shall be as before.”
And hastened to the woods in speed.—
“Bring me that water with life’s charm;
The body shall retain no harm,
But shall be as before.”
As soon as wound to wound he laid
Life’s fire again flashed through the maid.
The arms rejoined the trunk and heart
As though they had not been apart,
Retaining not a fault.
Life’s fire again flashed through the maid.
The arms rejoined the trunk and heart
As though they had not been apart,
Retaining not a fault.
“Spring up, my boy, and hurry back!
I want to sell the golden rack:
Go to the castle of the king,
But don’t sell it for anything
But for two human eyes.”
I want to sell the golden rack:
Go to the castle of the king,
But don’t sell it for anything
But for two human eyes.”
The boy took at the gate his stand,
The golden rack gleamed in his hand.
And scarcely did the quen behold:
“I wish I had that rack of gold
To match my distaff yet!”
The golden rack gleamed in his hand.
And scarcely did the quen behold:
“I wish I had that rack of gold
To match my distaff yet!”
“Get up, dear mother, and go back
And inquire what will buy that rack.”
“Two eyes, madame, two human eyes,
That is my father’s only price,
He asks two human eyes.”
And inquire what will buy that rack.”
“Two eyes, madame, two human eyes,
That is my father’s only price,
He asks two human eyes.”
“Two eyes? Why, that’s the strangest toy!
Who is your father, my dear boy?”
“My father’s name needs not be known.
Who would look for him would find none;
Yet, he comes at his will.”—
Who is your father, my dear boy?”
“My father’s name needs not be known.
Who would look for him would find none;
Yet, he comes at his will.”—
“Dear mother, what shall I begin?
Without that rack I cannot spin!
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s eyes lie on the floor,
Let him take them along.”
Without that rack I cannot spin!
Go, mother, near the chamber door
Our Dora’s eyes lie on the floor,
Let him take them along.”