Dora Sigerson Shorter

“ All red was the pathway to his castle,
⁠And all eager and full fierce was his quest,
Till he came upon the corpse of his cousin—
⁠With his sharp spear deep buried in her breast.
•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•⁠•
So it is that the magic woods of Toonagh
⁠Are haunted by the spirit of a deer:
She wanders by the castle of Red Richard—
⁠Within her side the wounding of a spear. ”

“ Then she bounded but a pace from her resting
⁠Ere his hot spear was red within her side.
And he tracked her through the mist and through shadow,
⁠He followed the wet crimson on his way;
And he vowed he would have her dead or living,
⁠Or follow her until the Judgment Day. ”

“ As a white deer I shall spring the glades before you.
⁠Right merry shall you follow till you tire.”
Now came upon the pathway of Red Richard,
⁠As he rode through the arbours of the wood,
A white doe, so beautiful and trembling
⁠That all disarmed and wondering he stood.
“Very sweet you are and fair,” said Red Richard,
⁠“Pretty doe, like a woman soft and white ”