Page:The Story and Song of Black Roderick.djvu/28

20 ‘“Look only on luck,” quoth she, “oh, ancient one, lest my heart break even now.” I spread her pink fingertips out as one would unruffle a rose, and read therein her fate.’

‘And what read you there?’ said the Black Earl, impatient with her delay.

‘I read,’ quoth the crone, ‘and if I say, thou must keep thy anger from me, for what I read I had not written:

‘I traced upon her slender palm That luck was changing soon; I swore that peace would come to her Before another moon.

‘I said that he who loved her well Would robe her all in silk, And bear her in a coach of gold, With palfreys white as milk.

‘I told, before three suns had set He'd kneel down by her side; That he she loved would love her well, And she would be his bride.