Page:The Story and Song of Black Roderick.djvu/20

12 upon it shall bow thee as the snow does the mountain pine. Bend to me thine ear.’

To him then she said:

‘Where goeth your mistress?’

‘What care I?’ said the Black Earl, ‘since she be not thou.’

‘If she were I,’ said his lost love, ‘she would seek no other save thee alone.’

‘What sayest thou?’ said the Black Earl, pale as death.

‘Each night she goeth through the woods of Glenasmole to the hill of brown Kippure, and there lingereth until the dawn be chill.’

‘Who hath her love?’ saith the Black Earl.

‘A shepherd, or mayhap a swineherd—who knoweth?’ quoth the serpent voice. ‘By no brave prince art thou supplanted.’

At this the Black Earl struck his hand upon his breast.

‘Lord pity me,’ quoth he, ‘that in my time should come the stain upon our honored house! My name, that was so white, shall now blush red. My proud