Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/61

 Listen—do you hear the whisper—
 * He was killed by murder foul!

And his murderer hid the body
 * Near a cave where foxes howl.”

Wizard, can you say who killed him—
 * He who was my ford on earth?

Name your price, but tell me truly,
 * Does he still live on the earth?”

Then the wizard rose up stately,
 * And said slow, “Accursed one!

Do you doubt my magic power—
 * You are that accursed one!”

Yes, you killed your stripling nephew,
 * To inherit his broad land;

And you come here but to question
 * If detection is at hand.

Do you dream to cheat a wizard,
 * As you cheated that poor lad?

Yes, detection dogs your footsteps,
 * You shall see the murdered lad.

Never from this forest’s shadow
 * Shall you wander out again;

Even now they bring his body;
 * With your dagger he was slain.”

At these words the muffled stranger,
 * With a shriek rushed to the door,

But he fell back, swooning, fainting,
 * At the burden that they bore.

Half devoured by the foxes,
 * Lay the lord of vast estate;
 * On his knees a raving madman,
 * Laughed his uncle o’er his fate.

Through the dark and somber forest,
 * Home they bore the murdered youth;
 * But his uncle left that forest,
 * Nevermore on earth, forsooth.