Page:Bohemian legends and other poems.djvu/185

He also would be reconciled
To ease his torments long and stern.
Long years we waited for this hour—
If thou art willing, lo, we meet,
All three to-morrow, to make peace,
Before God’s holy mercy seat.”
The Domherr said, “Oh, wretched pair,
Most gladly I will join your hands;
Come but to-morrow, as you say,
And we will break the devil’s bands.”
The spirit faded from his sight—
New horror tilled his trembling fame.
What was this vision he had seen?
And would his kindred come again?
All day he fasted, thought and prayed,
And when the evening shadows came,
Built a high altar in his room,
And knelt in prayer before the same.
Wax candles burnt before the shrine,
And incense filled the heavy air,
When on the stroke of twelve o’clock,
Before him stood the troubled pair.
“What will you?” asked the godly priest.
“We seek forgiveness,” both they said;
And then our Domherr took their hands,
And joined them as when they were wed.
The room was filled with heavenly light
An unseen chorus sang God’s praise;
The Domherr and the wretched ones
Acknowledged now God’s wondrous ways;
By unknown hands were censers swung,
The room was filled with perfume sweet,
All three fell down upon their knees
In prayer before the mercy seat.
Angelic voices sang God’s praise,
So loud the castle rang with song.
The Domherr knelt before the shrine—
He never knew himself how long—
At length a voice broke on his ear,
The voice of one he knew so well.
“Oh, blessed kinsman, in a year,
Thou too will come with us to dwell.