Story and Song of Black Roderick | Page 4

watched him made his heart beat with unwonted
quickness, and he knew they were so many silent judges reading the
evil of his soul. "Get thee gone," quoth the Black Earl. "Darest thou
gaze upon me without fear?"
But the red weasel, resting at the doorway of his hole, did not blink a
lid of his sharp eyes.
"Who art thou that evil should droop ashamed before thee?" said a
voice, and the Black Earl turned as though a stone had struck him.
Now, when he looked east and west, no one could he see, but when he
turned him south, there among the trees he saw an old, bent woman
gathering herbs. He turned his horse and, full of rage, drove it towards
her.
"Was it not thy voice that hurt my ears as I stood upon the hill?" quoth
the Black Earl, his tongue silken in his rage.
"Nay," said the ancient crone; "I heard but the linnet's song upon the
tree, and the sound of running water that is murmuring in the grove.
Listen, and thou, too, shalt hear."
"Nay," quoth she again, for the Black Earl scowled so at her that she
feared to be silent. "If I said this thing, why should it vex the ear of so

proud a knight? Yonder black rook did look into my face with an
inquisitive eye as I plucked my herbs and harmed no man, so I, angry at
the wicked one, cursed him begone. As he flew affrighted at my hand, I
turned my eyes into my own heart. The birds and I, do we not both root
in the cold earth, seeking to draw from it our desires? Black and
ill-looking, we dig all day. 'Who art thou,' quoth I to myself, 'that evil
should fly before thee?' Wicked that I am," cried the witch, "and sorrow
upon me that my words have vexed thine ears!"
Now the Black Earl did look upon her in anger, and but half believed
her tale. His trouble being heavy upon him, he bade her leave her
lamenting and answer his question.
"There is one," quoth he, "who doth wander upon the hill-side, far from
her home, a lady of high degree; sawest thou any such," saith he, "for I
have sought her long?"
Now will I sing thee what was said and what happened, lest thou grow
weary of my prose:
_"I have not seen your lady here," The withered dame replied; "But I
have met a little lass Who wrung her hands and cried._
_"She was not clad in silken robe, Nor rode a palfrey white, She had no
maidens in her train, Behind her rode no knight._
_"But she crept weary up yon hill And crouched upon the sward; I dare
not think that she could be Spouse to so great a lord."_
_Now darkly frowned Earl Roderick, He turned his face away; And
shame and anger in his heart Disturbed him with their sway._
_For he had never cared to know What his young bride would wear; He
gave her neither horse nor hound, Nor jewels for her hair._
Now shall I tell how the Black Earl clapped his hand upon his dagger,
and said in a great rage: "Where went this little lass, and whom hath
she by her side? for whoever he be, I shall show to him no pity. Neither
shall her tears save her. Nor shall thy age serve thee, witch, if thou hast
spoken not the truth. Whither went they, so I may follow, as the hound
goes on the trail of the deer?"
"Oh, sharp sorrow thy anger is!" cried the old crone; "what can I say,
save what my eye hath seen and my ear hath heard? The little lass
passed me as I gathered my herbs under the dew. She hath by her side
no lord nor lover. She went sad and alone. Here climbed she the height
of the hill, and there sat she making her lament."

"And what lament made she?" said the Black Earl, putting his dagger
into its sheath.
"Once called she on her father, as one who drowns in deep waters
would call upon a passing ship. Twice called she upon her mother, as
one would call upon a house of rest or of hospitality. Thrice called she
upon Earl Roderick, as one would call at the gates of paradise, there to
find rescue and love."
"And said she naught else?" said the Black Earl, his head upon his
breast.
"Yea," quoth the crone, "when she called upon her father, she smiled
through her tears. 'Didst thou know I perish,' quoth she, 'thy arms
would reach to save me!'
"And when she called twice upon her mother, her mouth smiled even
the same, 'for didst