THE LAST UNICORN

"'I am no king, and I am no lord,
And I am no soldier at arms,' said he.
'I'm none but a harper, and a very poor harper,
That am come hither to wed with ye.'
"'If you were a lord, you should be my lord,
And the same if you were a thief,' said she.
'And if you are a harper, you shall be my harper,
For it makes no matter to me, to me,
For it makes no matter to me.'
"'But what if it prove that I am no harper?
That I lied for your love most monstrously?'
'Why, then I'll teach you to play and sing,
For I dearly love a good harp,' said she."

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Peter S. Beagle, born in New York City in 1939, was graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1959. His first book, the novel _A Fine and Private Place_, was published the following year. He lived in Paris and traveled in France, Italy, and England and then spent a year at Stanford University on a Writing Fellowship. His second book, _I See by My Outfit_, an account of a cross-country trip by motor scooter, was published in 1965. Mr. Beagle has published stories and articles in _The Atlantic_ and _Holiday_, among other periodicals. He lives in Santa Cruz, California.