Page:The Story and Song of Black Roderick.djvu/78

70 days for the suffering he caused her on earth, and for her young and unready death.’

Then the bolts and the bars fell from the door with a great noise, and the evil thing entered the castle.

Now, as Black Roderick lay upon his death-bed tossing and turning in his fever, there rushed unto him one of the serving-men in a great terror and fear.

And of what they spoke together shall I sing thee, lest thou grow weary of my prose:

There is one at the door, O my master, At the door, who is bidding you come! Who is he that wakes me in the darkness, Calling when all the world's dumb?

Six horses has he to his carriage, Six horses blacker than the night; And their twelve red eyes in the shadows Twelve lamps he carries for his light.

And his coach is a coffin black and mouldy, A huge oak coffin open wide; He asks for your soul, God have mercy! Who is calling at the door outside.