Suffer
me to--
SHE (_breathlessly and shrinking from his touch_): But I fear not
quagmires--there be greater perils--more shameful and--and--'tis so dark,
so dark! 'Tis hateful place. Ride we till it be day--
He (_mockingly_): Perils, lady? Why certes there be perils--and perils.
Perils that creep and crawl, perils that go on four legs and perils two-
legged--e'en as I. But I, though two-legged, am but very fool of fools and
nothing perilous in blazing day or blackest night. So stint thy fears,
lady, for here bide we till dawn!
Herewith he caught her in sudden arms and lifted her to the ground; then,
dismounting, he set about watering and cherishing the wearied steed and
tethered him beside a dun stream that rippled beneath shadowy willows; and
so doing, fell a-singing on this wise:
"'Fair lady, thou 'rt lost!' quoth he,
Sing derry, derry down.
'And O, 'tis dark--'tis dark!' quoth she,
'And in the dark dire perils be,'
O, derry, derry down!
"Quoth he: 'Fair lady, stint thy fear,'
Sing derry, derry down.
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