Tales of Terror | ||
No. IV. THE WOLF-KING ;
OR LITTLE RED-RIDING-HOOD.
AN OLD WOMAN'S TALE.
Persius.
Translated from the Danish of the author of the Water-King, &c. and respectfully inscribed to M. G. Lewis, Esq. M. P. as an humble attempt to imitate his excellent version of that celebrated ballad.
The mother kiss'd her darling child,
And said—“My dear, take custards three,
“And carry to your grand-mummie.”—
A little riding-hood of red,
And as she pass'd the lonely wood,
They call'd her small Red-riding-hood.
And as she went thus artless sung,
—“A lady lived beneath a hill,
“Who, if not gone, resides there still.”—
He eyed her custards, mark'd her song,
And cried—“That child and custards three,
“This evening, shall my supper be!”—
And heedless trill'd her plaintive lay,
Nor had she pass'd the murky wood,
When lo! the Wolf-King near her stood!
“Oh! whither do you bend your way?”—
—“My little self and custards three,
“Are going to my grand-mummie!”—
“On which the azure blue-bells grow;
“I'll take this road; then haste thee, dear,
“Or I before you will be there.
“A kiss you forfeit, if I've won;
“Your prize shall be, if first you come,
“Some barley-sugar and a plumb!”—
And dropp'd a pretty courtesie;
The little maid then onward hied,
And sought the blue-bell'd mountain's side.
And faintly tapp'd at granny's door;
—“Oh! let me in, grand-mummy good,
“For I am small Red-riding-hood.”—
“The door will then fly open wide.”—
The crafty Wolf the bobbin drew,
And straight the door wide open flew!
And utter'd thrice an hideous roar;
He pac'd the bed-room nine times three,
And then devour'd poor grand-mummie!
He gnaw'd her sinews, crack'd her bones;
He munch'd her heart, he quaff'd her gore,
And up her lights and liver tore !!!
Her night-cap tied beneath his chin;
And waiting for his destin'd prey,
All snug between the sheets he lay.
Which cried—“I've brought you custards three;
“Oh! let me in, grand-mummy good,
“For I am small Red-riding-hood.”—
“The door will then fly open wide!”—
The little dear the bobbin drew,
And straight the door wide open flew .
And sigh'd—“I wish I'd brought you four ,
“I'm very tired, dear grand-mummie,
“Oh! may I come to bed to thee?”—
“And lie, my sweet one, by my side;”—
Ah little thought the child so gay,
The cruel Wolf-King near her lay!
“Why does your voice so gruff appear?”—
—“Oh! hush, sweet-heart,” the Wolf-King said,
“I've got a small cold in my head!”—
“Why you've a tail grows out behind?”—
—“Oh! hush thee, hush thee, pretty dear,
“My pin-cushion I hang on here!”—
—“They are your pretty face to see.”—
—“Why do your ears so long appear?”—
—“They are your pretty voice to hear.”—
“Your teeth appear so long and white ?”—
Then growling, cried the Wolf so grim,
—“They are to tear you limb from limb!”—
His sparkling eyes with fury flash'd,
He oped his jaws all sprent with blood,
And fell on small Red-riding-hood.
—“Little maid, I will eat you!”—
The little maid she was no more!
Of wolves' insidious arts beware;
And as you pass each lonely wood,
Ah! think of small Red-riding-hood.
Nor gather blue-bells as ye go;
Get not to bed with grand-mummie,
Lest she a ravenous wolf should be!
Though the northern states of Europe are not conceived, even by the most violent alarmists, to be much infected by the principles of jacobinism, yet in their disloyal languages “King” is often used as a term for a fiend, whose business is to destroy the happiness of mankind, and whose delight is in human misery.
This stanza is borrowed from an affecting and sanguinary description in a German ballad by Professor Von Splüttbach, called “Skulth “den Belch, or Sour Mthltz.” In English, as far as translation can convey an idea of the horror of the original), “The Bloody Banquet, or “the Gulf of Ghosts!!!” a very terrible and meritorious production!
The reader will do my heroine the justice to remember, that she set out with only three, consequently her wish that another had been added, arose from a motive purely affectionate and characteristic. This benevolent trait, thus ingeniously insinuated, excites the interest of the reader for her, and adds horror to the catastrophe.
Tales of Terror | ||