Chapter XXIV: Part II

The Princess stood at the bower-door,
Laughing, who could her blame?
But e’er the next day’s sun went down,
A long Worm she became.

For seven miles East, and seven miles West,
And seven miles North, and South,
No blade of grass or corn could grow,
So venomous was her mouth.

The milk of seven stately cows--
It was costly her to keep--
Was brought her daily, which she drank
Before she went to sleep.

At this day may be seen the cave
Which held her folded up,
And the stone trough--the very same--
Out of which she did sup.

Word went East, and word went West,
And word is gone over the sea,
That a Laidley Worm in Spindleston-Heughs,
Would ruin the North Countrie.

Word went East, and word went West,
And over the sea did go;
The Child of Wynd got wit of it,
Which filled his heart with woe.

He called straight his merry men all,
They thirty were and three:
“I wish I were at Spindleston,
This desperate Worm to see.

“We have no time now here to waste,
Hence quickly let us sail:
My only sister Margaret
Something, I fear, doth ail.”

They built a ship without delay,
With masts of the Rowan-Tree,
With fluttering sails of silk so fine,
And set her on the sea.

They went aboard; the wind with speed,
Blew them along the deep;
At length they spied an huge square tower
On a rock high and steep.

The sea was smooth, the weather clear;
When they approached nigher,
King Ida’s Castle they well knew,
And the banks of Bambroughshire.