Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/60



Through the dark and lonely forest,
 * Sparingly the sunlight fell;

Round the forests, rocky mountains,
 * Where the eagle’s brood doth dwell;

By a little stream of water,
 * In a cave amidst, the rocks,

Dwelt the wizard of Podjokly,
 * Old and bent, with snowy locks.

Far and wide they came to see him,
 * Asking help, and begging aid;

And ’twas said he could do wonders—
 * But he must be richly paid.

When the shades of evening gather,
 * Like a dark cloud in the sky,

Once there came a muffled figure,
 * Hid from every prying eye.

Wizard, can your magic tell me,
 * What his fate was who wore this?

Name your price, but tell me truly,
 * Is your knowledge up to this?”

In his hand he placed a locket
 * With a curl of golden hair.

Name your price but tell me truly,
 * Where is he who owned this hair?”

Then the wizard lit his fire—
 * Took his hood and drew his spell.

Then he said, “The youth’s voice whispers
 * From the ground where he doth dwell.