Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/48

 When the evening shadows lengthen,
 * Bound with chains they bring the youth.

In a car, with dragon horses,
 * Lost is witch and youth, forsooth.

Hardly five weeks was the staghound
 * Once more with his lord,

When the dearly bought one sickened,
 * Died before his lord;

Then his master, in a frenzy,
 * Tore his hair in woe.

But the dog lay dead for all that—
 * John was lying low.

When at length his pain was duller,
 * And some days had passed,

Human feeling woke within him,
 * And he felt at last

What a sin he had committed
 * When he gave the lad

To the witch; and lone and haunted,
 * Sat he still and sad.

Johnny—poor devoted Johnny,”
 * Often did he say,

To a fearful death I gave you,
 * On an evil day.

Oh, nod to me from thy heaven,
 * That I am forgiven.

Oh, show mercy to me, Johnny,
 * Say I am forgiven.”

After that he built a chapel,
 * Not far from the well;

And a wooden tower also,
 * With a silver bell—

With a bell of purest silver
 * They were bid to toll

Every day, in rain and sunshine,
 * For poor Johnny’s soul.