The story and song of Black Roderick . ^ 6& voice, and the Black Earl turned asthough a stone had struck him. Now, when he looked east andwest, no one could he see, but whenhe turned him south, there amongthe trees he saw an old, bent wom-an gathering herbs. He turned hisS horse and, full of rage, drove ittowards her. Was it not thy voice that hurtmy ears as I stood upon the hill?quoth the Black Earl, his tonguesilken in his rage. Nay, said the ancient crone; Iheard but the linnets song upon thetree, and the sound of running waterthat is murmuring in the , and thou, too, shalt hear
The story and song of Black Roderick . ^ 6& voice, and the Black Earl turned asthough a stone had struck him. Now, when he looked east andwest, no one could he see, but whenhe turned him south, there amongthe trees he saw an old, bent wom-an gathering herbs. He turned hisS horse and, full of rage, drove ittowards her. Was it not thy voice that hurtmy ears as I stood upon the hill?quoth the Black Earl, his tonguesilken in his rage. Nay, said the ancient crone; Iheard but the linnets song upon thetree, and the sound of running waterthat is murmuring in the , and thou, too, shalt hear. Nay, quoth she again, for theBlack Earl scowled so at her that shefeared to be silent. If I said thisthing, why should it vex the ear ofso proud a knight? Yonder blackrook did look into my face with aninquisitive eye as I plucked my herbs16. and harmed no man, so I, angry atthe wicked one, cursed him he flew affrighted at my hand, Iturned my eyes into my own heart. *The birds and I, do we not both rootin the cold earth, seeking to drawfrom it our desires? Black and ill-looking, we dig all day. Who artthou, quoth I to myself, that evilshould fly before thee? Wicked^,that I am, cried the witch, andjsorrow upon me that my words havewCyvexed thine ears! Now the Black Earl did look uponher in anger, and but half believedher tale. His trouble being heavyupon him, he bade her leave herlamenting and answer his ques-tion. There is one, quoth he, whodoth wander upon the hill-side, farfrom her home, a lady of high de-gree; sawest thou any such, saithhe, for I have sought her long? Now will I sing thee what was said17 %
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1906
