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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57632 ***
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+[Illustration: Front cover]
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+
+
+
+[Frontispiece: The Lincoln Imp
+  Photographed in its actual position in the
+  Angel Choir of Lincoln Cathedral by S. Smith]
+
+
+
+
+  The Legend
+  of the
+  Lincoln Imp
+
+  by H. J. Kesson
+  (Ursus)
+
+
+  Lincoln: J. W. Ruddock & Sons Ltd
+
+
+
+
+  The
+  Legend
+  of the
+  Lincoln
+  Imp
+
+
+
+  To my friend
+  E. B. K. D.
+
+
+
+  COPYRIGHT
+
+  First edition 1904
+  Reprinted 1907, 1911, 1919, 1922, 1923,
+  1925, 1927, 1930, 1935, 1939, 1941, 1944.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Lincoln Imp]
+
+
+[Illustration: The Legend of the Lincoln Imp]
+
+
+  The Legend of the Lincoln Imp
+
+  The devil was in a good humour one day,
+  And let out his sprightly young demons to play.
+  One dived in the sea, and was not at all wet,
+  One jumped in a furnace: no scorch did he get;
+  One rode on a rainbow; one delved in the dirt;
+  One handled fork lightning, nor got any hurt;
+  One strode on the wind as he would on a steed,
+  And thus to old Lindum was carried with speed,
+  Where aldermen heard him conceitedly say
+  "There'll be, ere I leave it, the devil to pay."
+
+
+[Illustration: One strode on the wind as he would on a steed]
+
+
+  "And now," says the Imp, "take me into the church;
+  "His lordship of Lindum I'll knock off his perch;
+  "I'll blow up the chapter, and blow up the dean;
+  "The canons I'll cannon right over the screen;
+  "I'll blow up the singers, bass, tenor, and boy;
+  "And the blower himself shall a blowing enjoy;
+  "The organist, too, shall right speedily find
+  "That I'll go one better in raising the wind;
+  "I'll blow out the windows, and blow out the lights,
+  "Tear vestments to tatters, put ritual to rights!
+  "And e'en the poor verger who comes in my road
+  "Will find"--vulgar Imp!--"he may likewise be blow'd."
+
+
+[Illustration: "He may likewise be blow'd."]
+
+
+  Now the wind has his faults, but you'll find on the whole
+  If somewhat uncouth, he's an orthodox soul;
+  He wouldn't blow hard on a monarch, I ween,
+  Nor ruffle the robes of a bishop or dean;
+  And if for dissenters he cares not the least,
+  You won't catch him blowing up deacon or priest;
+  The man in the street he may rudely unrig,
+  But he snatches not judge's or barrister's wig.
+  When he enters a church, as the musical know,
+  'Tis only to make the sweet organ-pipes blow:
+  The toot on the "choir" or the "swell" or the "great,"
+  And hence at the Imp he was justly irate;
+  So in sorrowful anger he said to the elf,
+  "No! here I shall stop, you may go by yourself."
+
+  The impudent elf in derision replied,
+  "Such half-hearted folks are much better outside;
+  "To force you to enter I cannot, but see,
+  "Till I've finished my fun, you must wait here for me."
+
+
+[Illustration: "THE DEVIL LOOKING OVER LINCOLN"
+  A grotesque sculpture on a pinnacle over
+  the south porch of Lincoln Cathedral.]
+
+
+  Then he entered the porch in an imp-ious way,
+  Declaring the nave should be spelt with a K;
+  He roamed through each transept, he strolled in each aisle,
+  Then he thought in the choir he would romp for a while.
+  As he passed 'neath the rood no obeisance he made;
+  No rev'rence at all to the altar he paid;
+  He thumbed all the canons' and choristers' books,
+  And cast on the saints his most insolent looks;
+  The chalice and patens were safe in a box,
+  He was stopped in the act of unpicking the locks.
+  He hacked at the lectern and chopped at the stalls;
+  The tapestry tore from the sanctified walls;
+  Incensed against incense, the thuribles he
+  Demolished; the candlesticks broke on his knee.
+
+
+[Illustration: The candlesticks broke on his knee.]
+
+
+  Then seeing some angels he cried, "Pretty things,
+  "A sackful of feathers I'll pluck from your wings
+  "To make me a couch when I'm tired of this joke,"
+  Ah! soon he was sorry that rudely he spoke;
+  For the tiniest angel, with amethyst eyes
+  And hair like spun gold, 'fore the altar did rise,
+  Pronouncing these words in a dignified tone
+  "O impious Imp, be ye turned into stone!"
+  So he was, as you'll see when to Lincoln you stray:
+  And the wind has been waiting outside till this day.
+  You can't see the wind, but no matter for that
+  Believe, or he'll rob you of cloak or of hat.
+
+
+[Illustration: He'll rob you of cloak or of hat.]
+
+
+  MORAL
+
+  This moral, I trust, you'll deduce from my lay--
+  If ever you're minded the mischief to play.
+  Be sure that you're able the "needful" to find,
+  In other words, certain of "raising the wind";
+  And then, when you're bent upon "going the pace,"
+  Don't count on the wind, or I pity your case.
+  There are bikes at your service, and motors galore.
+  Steam, gas, and electric machines by the score;
+  Again, if for skittish amusement you search.
+  Don't meddle, I pray, with affairs of the church.
+  The puppets of politics--all will admit--
+  Are legitimate sport for exuberant wit;
+  But if ever a trick on the clergy you play,
+  You'll speedily find there's the "dickens to pay."
+
+
+[Illustration: There are bikes at your service, and motors galore.]
+
+
+  To angels--when met--be extremely polite,
+  Attentions too forward they'll keenly requite;
+  Don't ruffle their feathers; just let them alone.
+  Else, if you're converted, 'twill be into stone;
+  Don't chum with low people, unruly and bold.
+  And be left, when they've done with you, "out in the cold."
+  Don't be far too clever; but seek to be good,
+  And when you're at Lincoln behave as you should:
+  Step into the Minster the Imp to behold.
+  Who points to the truth of the tale that I've told.
+  So visit old Lindum, a city most rare;
+  Of course take a ticket, and pay the due fare!
+
+
+[Illustration: Of course take a ticket, and pay the due fare!]
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE ANGEL CHOIR, LINCOLN CATHEDRAL
+  The Imp is on the
+  last column but one]
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE SOUTH PORCH, LINCOLN CATHEDRAL]
+
+
+
+[Illustration: THE LINCOLN CATHEDRAL WEST FRONT]
+
+
+
+[Illustration: Rear cover]
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+End of Project Gutenberg's The Legend of the Lincoln Imp, by H. J. Kesson
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 57632 ***