J. F. Campbell Collection > Minstrelsy of the Scottish border > Volume 3

18 3fINSTIlF.I,SY OF
upon the visitor some small pieces of money, informing
him, that she was enchanted by her step-dame, but
should recover her natural shape on being kissed thrice
by a mortal. The tailor essayed to fulfil the conditions
of the adventure ; but her face assumed such an altered,
wild, and grim expression, that his courage failed, and
he was fain to fly from the place. A kinsman of his,
some years after, penetrated into the cavern, with the
purpose of repairing a desperate fortune. But, finding
nothing but dead men's bones, he ran mad and died.
Sir John Mandeville tells a similar story of a Grecian
island.
There ai-e numerous traditions upon the Borders, con-
" Fuss' io certo d'andare in paradise,
Come son' certo, chinandomi un poco,
Che quella bestia mi s'avvento al viso,
E mi piglia nel naso, o altro loco :
Egli e proprio cosi, com' io m'avviso,
Ch' altri ch'io stato e colto a questo gioco
E che costei mi da questo conforto
Per vindicarsi di colui,-ch'ho morto.""
Cosi discendo, a rinculare attende,
Deliberato piu non s'accostare :
La Donna si dispera, e Io reprende,
" Ah codardo," dicea, " che credi fare ?
Perche tanta vUta, I'alma t'offende,
Che ti farr. alia fin mal capitare ?
Infinita paura e poca fede,
La salute gli mostro, e non mi ciede."
Un cavalier occisi per BraDdimarte ncl entraredel palazzo incaiitata.