Never were seen so many rich kirtles of divers colours, such costly mantles, such precious jewels and rings.

"What does she put upon her kirtle?

The maidens, Erech's daughters, now appear, With richest kirtles gaily decked with flowers, And on his head they rain their rosy showers.

"Here, Marian," cried the outlaw, and young Robin's heart gave a throb and he made a movement to get down to go to the sweet-faced woman who came hurriedly out, wide-eyed and wondering, in her green kirtle, her long soft naturally curling hair rippling down her back, but confined round her brow by a plain silver band in which a few woodland flowers were placed.

Next after the music were four men each bearing a large garland of flowers, and after them followed the merry lads and smiling lasses in good order and arrayed in their holiday kirtles.

These two maidens were richly dressed in kirtles closely laced and shapen to their persons and wore mantles of a goodly purple hue.

Very richly arrayed were these damsels in raiment of fine needlework, and their kirtles were covered by fresh fair mantles, embroidered with gold.

She was richly dressed in a kirtle of vermeil silk, broidered with gold, and her mantle was worth the spoil of a king's castle.

I have heard it gravely asserted that the wealth of a German damsel may be known by counting the number of her "kirtles."

In the | fisherman's | cot the | wheel and the | loom are still | busy; Maidens still | wear their | Norman | caps and their | kirtles of | homespun, And by the | evening | fire

* ELLEN IRWIN; OR, THE BRAES OF KIRTLE

Fair Ellen Irwin, when she sate Upon the braes of Kirtle, Was lovely as a Grecian maid Adorned with wreaths of myrtle; Young Adam Bruce beside her lay, 5 And there did they beguile the day With love and gentle speeches, Beneath the budding beeches.

But what are Gordon's form and face, His shattered hopes and crosses, To them, 'mid Kirtle's pleasant braes, Reclined on flowers and mosses?

And what are Gordon's crosses To them who sit by Kirtle's Braes Upon the verdant mosses?

[Footnote A: The Kirtle is a River in the Southern part of Scotland, on whose banks the events here related took place.

The addresses of the latter were, however, favoured by the friends of the lady, and the lovers were therefore obliged to meet in secret, and by night, in the Churchyard of Kirkconnell, a romantic spot, surrounded by the river Kirtle.

"Lord, Master Busy," she said demurely, "how was a poor maid to know that you meant it earnestly?" "Meant it earnestly?" "Yes ... a new kirtle ... a gold ring ... flowers ... and sack-posset and pasties to all the guests," she explained.

He kissed the edge of her kirtle, then her cloak and the tips of her little shoes: "It was cruel to keep me waiting ...

Am I not tied to the strings of your kirtle by lasting bonds of infinite gratitude?" "I will start to-morrow then.

Mostly men they were, some old, some youngbut there were women too, women in showy kirtles, with bare shoulders showing well above the colverteen kerchief and faces wherein every line had been obliterated by plentiful daubs of cosmetics.

They had drawn their kirtles over their heads and looked like gigantic oval balls, gray or black, with small mud-stained feet peeping out below.

One by one the women, still holding their kirtles tightly round their shoulders, began to move away.

what may be a womans lucke: if he refuse it, Lord how vnkindely she takes the matter, and cannot be reconciled with lesse then a gowne or a kirtle of silke.

So did the dressing of the fibre of the flax and palm-lily, and the weaving therefrom of "mats" or mantles, and of kirtles.

Back flew the bolt of lissom lath; Fair Margaret, in her tidy kirtle, Led the lorn traveller up the path, Through clean clipt rows of box and myrtle.