Story and Song of Black Roderick | Page 6

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 bride.
As he lay upon the heather, he heard the shrill voice of his little brother clamoring by his side.
"Be still," quoth he, "for thou hast frightened away a fair dream that I fain would follow."
"But I would tell thee," said the little brother, "of a strange thing, and one to set thee full of laughter."
"Nay," quoth the Black Earl, "of that I have no desire, lest thou place upon my head a cap and bells, and call me fool Roderick."
"And wherefore," said the little brother, "shouldst thou laugh at fool Roderick?"
"Because," quoth the Black Earl, "he hath found a strange jewel when he hath lost it."
"Thy words I do not understand," saith the little brother. "What was the strange jewel that he hath and yet hath not?"
"Love," quoth the Black Earl.
"That neither do I understand," saith the little brother, "but now thou must listen to my story."
And of what he saith shall