Now when we gained the road, a sudden pain
Shot through my breast, making me like to die;
And I perceived my sickness come again.
Upon the knight I leaned full heavily,
Whilst he with gentleness and kindly cheer
Conveyed me back into the hostelry
No further might we then in voyage steer,
But there long time in forced harbour lay,
And still upon me grew that sickness drear
And of that evil time I have to say
That it was bringing in our parting hour,
Which found her place in no far distant day,
When Mano was borne from me by the power
Of evil fate: — in sickness I was left,
And him did flames of destiny devour.
But ere the day that I was so bereft,
There chanced another thing, which I shall tell,
To show that destiny cannot be wefte;
And how fate sendeth her forecasting spell. —
It was a dream, wherein in changeful maze
He was with Gerbert mixed, that him befell:
This he to me related in those days;
And this it was: Appeared that they two
Were in a road beyond the city ways,
When first the ground was strewn with lighter snow;
And as their way they held, discoursing deep,
They seemed to meet with many whom they knew;
But next they were alone: then night gan creep
Upon the pathway: and the wood grew dark
On either hand; 'twas hard the path to keep.
Then past them somewhat went, it seemed a spark,
Which back returned around them dancingly;
And something drear therein did Mano mark.
It seemed to be that man of Italy,
Whom he had slain, and for that crime had left
The land of his unknown nativity
Then Gerbert held him strongly; but he reft
The hold of Gerbert, and the form pursued,
Which went before, not looking right or left,
And vanished lastly in the ancient wood —
Then turned he back, and on the presage ill
Of that strange sign they both in thought did brood;
But neither spake, for they were pacing still
A darksome road of trouble and affright,
Till they beheld a house beside a hill,
That stood amid wild trees, and by dim light
Was spread a darksome field, in midst whereof
A strong horse stood, that seemed a dangerous sight.
But Mano said, " Lord Gerbert, long enough
We go afoot: mount thou this good horse now,
Since thou art wearied by this voyage rough. "
Then Gerbert said, " With folly avisest thou
To ride such horse: and furthermore I warn
That thou ride not, lest danger thereof grow. "
But Mano seized the horse with stubborn scorn:
And thereupon from out the wicket gate
An old man came, and said, " Of woman born
" None ride the horse without a loss full great:
For he will bear thee far; but it shall be
To thine own hurt. " But he, " Withhold debate:
For whitherso this horse will carry me,
Thither it is my mind to mount and ride,
Even to my hurt " — " The horse will carry thee
Far thitherward, " the aged man replied.
" Farewell, Lord Gerbert, " Mano answered there;
" Tarry thou here, whatever shall betide,
For on this road I promise far to fare. "
Shot through my breast, making me like to die;
And I perceived my sickness come again.
Upon the knight I leaned full heavily,
Whilst he with gentleness and kindly cheer
Conveyed me back into the hostelry
No further might we then in voyage steer,
But there long time in forced harbour lay,
And still upon me grew that sickness drear
And of that evil time I have to say
That it was bringing in our parting hour,
Which found her place in no far distant day,
When Mano was borne from me by the power
Of evil fate: — in sickness I was left,
And him did flames of destiny devour.
But ere the day that I was so bereft,
There chanced another thing, which I shall tell,
To show that destiny cannot be wefte;
And how fate sendeth her forecasting spell. —
It was a dream, wherein in changeful maze
He was with Gerbert mixed, that him befell:
This he to me related in those days;
And this it was: Appeared that they two
Were in a road beyond the city ways,
When first the ground was strewn with lighter snow;
And as their way they held, discoursing deep,
They seemed to meet with many whom they knew;
But next they were alone: then night gan creep
Upon the pathway: and the wood grew dark
On either hand; 'twas hard the path to keep.
Then past them somewhat went, it seemed a spark,
Which back returned around them dancingly;
And something drear therein did Mano mark.
It seemed to be that man of Italy,
Whom he had slain, and for that crime had left
The land of his unknown nativity
Then Gerbert held him strongly; but he reft
The hold of Gerbert, and the form pursued,
Which went before, not looking right or left,
And vanished lastly in the ancient wood —
Then turned he back, and on the presage ill
Of that strange sign they both in thought did brood;
But neither spake, for they were pacing still
A darksome road of trouble and affright,
Till they beheld a house beside a hill,
That stood amid wild trees, and by dim light
Was spread a darksome field, in midst whereof
A strong horse stood, that seemed a dangerous sight.
But Mano said, " Lord Gerbert, long enough
We go afoot: mount thou this good horse now,
Since thou art wearied by this voyage rough. "
Then Gerbert said, " With folly avisest thou
To ride such horse: and furthermore I warn
That thou ride not, lest danger thereof grow. "
But Mano seized the horse with stubborn scorn:
And thereupon from out the wicket gate
An old man came, and said, " Of woman born
" None ride the horse without a loss full great:
For he will bear thee far; but it shall be
To thine own hurt. " But he, " Withhold debate:
For whitherso this horse will carry me,
Thither it is my mind to mount and ride,
Even to my hurt " — " The horse will carry thee
Far thitherward, " the aged man replied.
" Farewell, Lord Gerbert, " Mano answered there;
" Tarry thou here, whatever shall betide,
For on this road I promise far to fare. "