Page:Select Popular Tales from the German of Musaeus.djvu/71

Rh your eyes seen, so black that your tongue refuses to mention it? Freely declare to me, without torture, what is known to you, like a true maiden.”—“My lord,” sobbed the servant, “what moves you to hear your misfortune? It is better that the frightful secret should be buried with my corpse in the cold grave.”

But Count Conrad only became more desirous to know the secret; he took the woman aside into a private room, and, overcome by threats and promises, she disclosed to him what he had been so very desirous to know:—“Your wife,” said she, “you must know, my lord, is an enchantress; but she loves you above measure, and her love goes so far, that she spares not her own children, thereby to procure the means of preserving your favour, and her beauty unchangeable. In the night, when all were asleep in great security, she placed herself as if she also slumbered. I did the same, I know not why. Soon she called me by my name, but I answered not, but pretended to snore and make a rattling in my throat. As she thought that I was fast asleep, she sat up in bed, took the baby, pressed it to her bosom, kissed it heartily, and whispered these words, which I clearly heard:—‘Son of my love, be a means to preserve to me thy father’s love; go now to thy little brother, thou innocent, that I may prepare with nine different herbs and thy little bones a strengthening drink, which shall preserve my beauty and thy father’s favour.’ When she had thus said, she drew forth a diamond needle, as sharp as a dagger, out of her hair, and pierced the baby to the heart, let it bleed a few drops, and, when it no longer struggled, she laid it before her, took the musk-apple, muttered some words, and when she lifted the lid, a light flame of fire blazed from it, as from a pitch-barrel, which consumed the corpse in a few moments; the ashes and little bones she collected carefully into a little box, and pushed it under the bedstead. Then she cried with an anxious voice, as if she had suddenly awoke from sleep—‘Nurse, where have you laid my baby?’ and I answered, with fear and trembling, in dread of her enchantments, ‘Noble lady, the dear little lord is in your arms.’ Then she began to behave as if she were very sorrowful, and I ran out of the chamber for the purpose of calling help. Behold, worshipful lord, these are the details of the shameful deed which you have obliged me to disclose to you; I am ready to prove the truth of my report by a red-hot iron bar, which I will carry with my naked hands three times up and down the castle-yard.”

Count Conrad stood as if petrified; for a long time he could not utter a word. When he had collected himself, he said, “What need is there of the fiery ordeal? your words bear the impress of truth; I feel and believe that all is as you have said: keep this frightful secret fast in your heart; tell it to no man, not even to the priest when you make confession. I will procure for you a letter of pardon from the Bishop of Augsburg, that