apparently to the top of the tower. As Carl quitted the chamber he cast a glance towards the recess, and saw such an expression of frantic joy on the countenance of the unhappy Helena, that he breathed more freely when his long-armed conductor shut the door, and drew a massy iron bolt on the outside.

When they had mounted a few steps, Carl heard the sound of shrill laughter below, and the same fearful song which had before horrified him. The old man seemed not to heed it, but calmly ascended the stair, which wound narrower and narrower toward the top. At last they stood on the top of the tower, on a narrow open platform without a railing, with the bright starry heavens above their heads, and on almost every side within two steps of the dizzy abyss beneath; for the tower was perched on the summit of the rock, and seemed to rise with it in a perpendicular line above the sea. A mist came over Carl's eyes, and he was forced to lean on his sword to prevent himself from falling over the precipice. He endeavored to overcome his dizziness by fixing his eyes steadily on his companion. The Seer unbent his back, rose to a great height before the eyes of Carl, and looked on him with a wild and threatening aspect. said he, looking fixedly on the knight. est, however old I may be.

"Here we are alone," "Here am I the strongTell me here, between the heaven

and yon abyss, what wouldst thou know?»

Carl summoned up all his strength, and was prepared to defend his life to the last, and contest the platform with the dark giant the instant he approached too near with his long arms; but the Seer stirred not, and seemed desirous to give him time for recollection. Carl then called to mind his King's behest, and forgot his own dangerous position. He leaned yet more heavily on his sword, and asked whether the Seer knew what his sovereign was thinking of, the day he fell into a revery with his foot in the stirrup; and if he did, what he said thereto?

The old man was silent, and contemplated the heavens for a considerable time. His dim eyes at last lighted up with singular fire, and he half spoke, half chanted:

:

"Thy Liege and Sovereign thought upon

The fate his children would befall,

When he himself was dead and gone!

Then tell him this for truth: They all

Shall civil strife and carnage see;

But each at last shall crownèd be!"

Carl treasured up every word in his memory which concerned the welfare of his King and country, without being able however to comprehend how this answer could console the King, for it seemed to him rather to contain an evil prophecy.

"Wouldst thou know more?" asked the Seer. then, for an evil star is above our heads."

"Make haste,

"Alas! Rigmor, Rigmor," said Carl with a sigh; and inquired of the old man in his own name if he knew where his wife was, and if he could tell him (without having recourse to any sinful arts) whether he should ever again behold her in this world.

"Goest thou hence alive," muttered the old man, "thou wilt soon know where she is; but if love be not mightier than hate thou wilt know it to thy cost."

Carl pondered over these mysterious words, and tried to find comfort in them for the disquietude of his heart. The old man

was about to say more, but at this moment a piercing shriek was heard within the tower, and the Seer turned pale. "The lamp!" he shouted; "make way:" and he rushed down to the winding stairs, pushing Carl aside with such force that he lost his balance on the platform and fell with his head resting on the edge of the tower. Carl looked down upon the unfathomable abyss beneath; but fortunately was able to recover himself and creep back on his hands and knees to the staircase, and in a moment overtook the old man. When the secret door was thrown open a bright flame burst forth; the panels and shutters were burning, and a faded female form was seated on the stone table amidst the smoldering papers, shouting and singing as she watched the progress of the flames. Carl seized her in his arms, and rushed with her through fire and smoke down to the last flight of stairs; while the old man thought only of rescuing his papers and instruments from the flames. Carl reached the last step of the stair, succeeded in drawing the bolt from the door, and made his escape from the tower without sustaining any injury; but the unhappy Lady Helena lay scorched and half dead. in his arms.

"Waldemar, Waldemar!" she groaned. "Thou hast cost me my soul's salvation.»

Carl laid her on the ground, and would have endeavored to rescue, if possible, the unfortunate Seer: but he saw with horror. that the flames now burst forth from every side of the tower, and that the old man was standing on the platform with a bundle of burning papers, which he scattered around him on the

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air, while he muttered incantations and wielded his staff as if he thought he could control the flames; but they presently reached him: he plunged in desperation into the burning tower and disappeared.

"Burn, burn, thou black Satan! I burn already," cried the dying Helena. "I shall no more disturb the peace of King Waldemar till Doomsday. I am the Queen of the Black Seer. I must plunge with him into the gulf. Ha! the millstone, the millstone! it will hang around my neck to all eternity. Where

now thy queens, Waldemar? alas! Dagmar, Dagmar, pray for me: proud Beengièrd strangles me with her bloody kerchief." After uttering these broken and fearful sentences, the miserable Helena wrung her hands in agony and expired. Carl uttered a hasty prayer, then looked up at the burning tower; the flame had shot over its summit, and a black form was thrown down at his feet. It was the unhappy Seer, whose corse lay crushed and burned among the stones.

MORNING SONG

HEY'RE gazing at each other, the flowers fair and small,

The blithesome birds unto their mates are talking;

Now open wide their eyes earth's children all;

And, house on back, the snail goes walking.

The tiniest worm is minded by God the maker here;

He feeds the birds and decks the lily flower:

But children holds he dearest of the dear;

On weeping eyes God's blessings shower.

God's Son was once a little one, on manger straw he lay,
His cradle here on earth stood, fashioned meanly;
God promises the children heavenly play

And blooms in meadows queenly.

God's Son holds us so dear, great child-friend is his name:
He bears the bairns to God, his arms supporting;
Though conquering sea and sky what time he came,
Babes at his breast were sporting.

O Thou who blessest us and didst caress the small,
Some morn in Paradise we shall behold thee;
Thou raisest up our eyes to God, let all

Praises and prayers enfold thee!

Translated for A Library of the World's Best Literature by Richard Burton.