"George Bidder - Merlin's Youth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bidder George)

That came and went, as o'er the harbour bars
The shipman sees the lantern on the shore.
Dark shadows clustered round upon the grass,
And backward, forward, would a shadow pass;
And ever drew they nearer, ever more.

9

We stood, and I stood foremost; till the breath
Of him from the South whose vixen I had slain,
Fanned warm on my cold limbs, and a thick rain
Slavered from both those jaws of fearsome death;
And his coat bristled o'er in lustful hate,
Big with revenge, and hunger, and my fate.

Yet she behind me gave a silvery laugh,
Like streamlet on the mountain, rippling clear,
When first it strikes the tired hunter's ear,
Who turns from summer's hear its rill to quaff.
Low answered from the pack in fear and dread
A whine of horror; and uneasy stirred each shadowy head.

She struck her little hand across his ears --
"Down, rascal! hast no manners for my friend?
Kiss, dog, where I have kissed." -- I saw him bend,
I felt his mouth drip hot and hungry tears
Over my feet; and then from foot to head
He slavered me -- whose cubs I had laid dead --
With teeth, and shining eyes, and hair bristling in hate and dread.

10

Ever there rang the silvery laugh behind,
And the eyes of the shadows moved; a single mind
Seemed to grow into the twining shapeless crowd,
As they closed together, and closer; poised on their feet,
As those who wait to know the moment is meet --
On a sudden the were-wolf rose and howled aloud --

And away to the South were a cloud of galloping backs,
Old dog, were-wolf, and the vixen leading the packs;
And up the stars rose laughter, awful and shrill:
She and I were alone. Her parted mouth
Shrilled, mocking, to the skies; and away to the South
I saw a rushlight burn in the village under the hill.

O then I turned to her, and I held my eyes
Proud, gazing where I saw her eyelids rise:
"Now, know you; wolves or fiends, I fear them nought;
But I will take what heart is in your breast,