The Huntsman by Edward Lowbury

The Huntsman by Edward Lowbury

Kagwa hunted the lion,
Through bush and forest went his spear.
One day he found the skull of a man
And said to it, "how did you come here?"
and the skull answered, "talking brought me here.'

Kagwa hurried home, Went to the king's chair and spoke,
"In the forest I found a talking skull"
The king went silent, then he said slowly,
"Never since I was born of my mother
have I seen or heard of a skull which spoke."

The king called out his guards,
"Two of you now go with him
and find this talking skull;
but if his tale is a lie
and the skull speaks no word,
this Kagwa himself must die"

They rode into the forest;
For days and nights they found nothing.
At last they saw the skull; Kagwa
Said to it "How did you come here?"
The skull said nothing. Kagwa implored,
But the skull said nothing.

The guards said, "Kneel down"
They killed him with sword and spear.
Then the skull opened its mouth,
"Huntsman, how did you come here?"
and the dead man answered,
'Talking brought me here"

by Edward Lowbury