Story and Song of Black Roderick | Page 6

"Whither went she?" said the Black Earl, angry in his need.
"Into thy chamber, great Earl!" cried the maid; "I saw her at thy
bed-head weeping piteously."
"It was thy lady," quoth the Earl; "lead me her way, and stop thy
lamentation."
"My grief!" the girl said, "her way I know not; when I, deeming her my
mistress, reached her side, she was no more. It is an evil day that
cometh upon us."
Now, when the proud Roderick saw the girl so full of fear, he chid her
cruelly and bade her go. Yet when she had left him he felt a strange and
unwonted coldness settle upon his heart.
The anger against his young bride was quenched, and a dewlike fear
grew upon him. But of what befell him I shall now sing to thee, lest
thou grow weary of my prose:
_All silent Black Earl Roderick Went to his room away, Full angry,
with his throbbing heart And fitful fancy's play._
_He sat him by the bright hearth-side, And turned towards the door;
And there upon the threshold stood His lady, weeping sore._
_He chased her down the winding stair, And out into the night, But
only found a withered crone, With long hair, loose and white._
_"Come hither now, you sly-faced witch; Come hither now to me. Say
if a lady all so pale Your evil eyes did see?"_
_"Oh, true, I saw a little lass, She went all white as snow; She crossed
my hands with silver crown Just two short hours ago."_
_"What did you tell the foolish wench, Who must my lady be? The
false tale you did tell to her You now must tell to me."_
_"I hate you, Black Earl Roderick, You're cruel, hard, and cold; Yet
you shall grieve like a young child Before the moon is cold._
_"This did I tell her, like a queen She'd ride into the town; And every
man who met her there Would on his knees go down._

_"I said that he who followed none Would walk behind her now, And
in his trembling hand the helm From his uncovered brow._
_"Then he should walk, while she would ride, Through all the town
away; And greater than Earl Roderick She would become that day."_
And now shall I tell how laughed the Black Earl aloud and scornful at
the witch's tale.
"No lady in the land," quoth he, "could so enslave me, and no woman
yet was born who hath my honor and glory."
So spoke Earl Roderick, and by these words shalt thou hold him,
heart-whole and vain withal, for the hour of his sorrow had not yet
struck.
Now turned he to the dame, and, chiding her, bade her begone.
"Thy tale," saith he, "is full of weariness. It hath neither wisdom nor
truth."
Turning from her in anger, home went he, and flung himself before the
dying fire in his chamber, a frown between his brows. And again a cold
fear turned closely about his heart. Raising his eyes, he saw no more
terrible a thing than his young bride, with a face of grievous pain,
looking upon him from the door. Then he spoke her gently.
"Come," quoth he, "sad-faced one, why dost thou torment me? One
question only shall I ask thee, and this must thou answer. Whom hast
thou met upon the hill? For the witch woman hath told me a wearisome
tale, which I shall not lend my ear to."
Now, when he spoke, his young bride neither answered nor came, but
gazed from the threshold upon him in silence. So he got up in anger
and went her way. Through the chamber strode he, and she was yet
before him, and without sound went she down the hall and stair. So out
through the open door, and the men-at-arms let her pass, though the
Black Earl bid them stay her feet, and gazed bewildered, seeing only
their stern master running alone, with fierce eyes, such as a hound doth
cast upon a young hare. Quick as the Black Earl ran, the little bride was
before.
Through sleepy woods and honey-perfumed plains, all through the
night did he chase her, but never once did he reach her, nor ever once
did she pause to rest.
When the morning sun was high, she led him up to the lights of Brown
Kippure, and there vanished from his sight.

Now, when the Black Earl perceived this wondrous thing, he felt his
heart sink with utter weariness, and without more seeking fell upon the
moss. Had his eyes been not so hot with anger, slow tears of sorrow
would have forced their way upon his cheeks, for now that he had her
not his desire was strong upon him to behold his