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Chap. XXIX. AGNETE AND THE MERMAN.
21
him seven children; when one day she hears under the
water “ the church-bells of England ring,” and is seized
with a very proper desire to attend mass. Her fishy
lover grants her permission, stops her ears and mouth,
and leaves her on the strand. Agnete follows into the
church her mother, who asks her, “ Where have you been
these last years nine ?” She replies, “ Under the deep
water with my lord the havman.” Once on land, Agnete
shows no desire to return. The merman follows her to
the church—“ his face is fair, his eye is blue, and his
long hah- shines like living gold ”—but as he enters the
door, “ all the saints and angels avert their heads.”
“ Come back, come back,” he cries; “ Agnete, your
children cry after you.
“ Oh, think upon the great; oh, think upon the small;
Oh, think upon the little one who lies in the cradle.”
But Agnete, heartless creature, refuses, and replies—
“ I won’t think upon the great or think upon the small,
Hah 1 Hah ! Hah !
Nor think upon the little one who cries in the cradle,
Hah ! Hah ! Hah! ”
Long and dreary was the way—sometimes catching
a glimpse of the Mos-Sø on the hill-top—till we arrived
at the ancient but tumbledown church of Dover. We
are all among the Cincpie Ports to-day. Further on to
the left lies Rye. Sandwig, in ancient times written
“ wich,” lies by the sea-coast. Strange our five most
ancient harbours of importance in England should all
bear names of Scandinavian origin. Hastings derives
her title from the pirate chief: and Winchelsea—
Vinkel Sø; though who this Vinkel might be who dared
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