The story and song of Black Roderick . ick, in hisjoy and desire, sprung from his bedon hearing the voice of his mistressbidding him fear not, all perchancehad gone well. 78 a^ j**?>^ But Roderick, sick and eager for^jthe sight of his bride, flung open thedoor, and was seized by the evil oneand carried away. Now, the spirit;of the little bride followed the hor-|^rible coach that contained her love,^even to the flaming gates of hell, andthere the evil one stopped and lookedupon her with desire. Better, quoth he, a thousandtlmes to let go this wretched fellow,^who will surely return to me lat
The story and song of Black Roderick . ick, in hisjoy and desire, sprung from his bedon hearing the voice of his mistressbidding him fear not, all perchancehad gone well. 78 a^ j**?>^ But Roderick, sick and eager for^jthe sight of his bride, flung open thedoor, and was seized by the evil oneand carried away. Now, the spirit;of the little bride followed the hor-|^rible coach that contained her love,^even to the flaming gates of hell, andthere the evil one stopped and lookedupon her with desire. Better, quoth he, a thousandtlmes to let go this wretched fellow,^who will surely return to me later, if^I can gain this soul who hath comeeven out of the kingdom of heaven. And, turning to the poor littlebride, he said: Give thou thyself to me, and Iwill let this love of thine return to theworld to work out his redemption. But the little soul, weeping, saith: Nay, my soul belongeth to Christin heaven, and I must not give it tothee; but for seven years shall I bethy slave if thou givest this dear oneto me at the 00 % c$>. ^ t&S ?jj> So the evil one thought to himself:4 Would I could steal this white soul(from heaven to be the greatest gemin my crown of triumph, and to serveme seven years. At the end of thattime her heart will incline to evil,and she will become mine. And again she spoke to him, andof what she said I shall sing thee,lest thou grow weary of my prose: // you will let his young soul go free,I will serve you true and well, For seven long years to be your slaveIn the bitterest place of hell. 1 Seven long years if you be my slave I will let his soul go freeThe stranger drew her then by the hand, And into the night went he. Seven long years did she serve him true By the blazing gates of hell,And on every soul that entered in The tears of her sorrow fell. Seven long years did she keep the place To open the doors accurst,And every soul that her tear-drops knew, It would neither burn nor
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1906
