"In God's name," cried he, "art thou not the shade of that departed knight who suffered and died for Verena?""I have not suffered, I have not died; but ye suffer, and ye die, poor mortals!" murmured the stranger."I am not Weigand.I am that other, who was so like him, and whom thou hast also met before now in the wood."Sintram strove to free himself from the terror which came over him at these words.He looked at his horse; it appeared to him entirely altered.The dry, many-coloured oak-leaves on its head were waving like the flames around a sacrifice, in the uncertain moonlight.He looked down again, to see after his faithful Skovmark.Fear had likewise most wondrously changed him.On the ground in the middle of the road were lying dead men's bones, and hideous lizards were crawling about; and, in defiance of the wintry season, poisonous mushrooms were growing up all around.
"Can this be still my horse on which I am riding?" said the knight to himself, in a low voice; "and can that trembling beast which runs at my side be my dog?"Then some one called after him, in a yelling voice, "Stop! stop!
Take me also with you!"
Looking round, Sintram perceived a small, frightful figure with horns, and a face partly like a wild boar and partly like a bear, walking along on its hind-legs, which were those of a horse; and in its hand was a strange, hideous weapon, shaped like a hook or a sickle.It was the being who had been wont to trouble him in his dreams; and, alas! it was also the wretched little Master himself, who, laughing wildly, stretched out a long claw towards the knight.
The bewildered Sintram murmured, "I must have fallen asleep; and now my dreams are coming over me!""Thou art awake," replied the rider of the little horse, "but thou knowest me also in thy dreams.For, behold! I am Death." And his garments fell from him, and there appeared a mouldering skeleton, its ghastly head crowned with serpents; that which he had kept hidden under his mantle was an hour-glass with the sand almost run out.
Death held it towards the knight in his fleshless hand.The bell at the neck of the little horse gave forth a solemn sound.It was a passing bell.
"Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit!" prayed Sintram; and full of earnest devotion he rode after Death, who beckoned him on.
"He has thee not yet! He has thee not yet!" screamed the fearful fiend."Give thyself up to me rather.In one instant,--for swift are thy thoughts, swift is my might,--in one instant thou shalt be in Normandy.Helen yet blooms in beauty as when she departed hence, and this very night she would be thine." And once again he began his unholy praises of Gabrielle's loveliness, and Sintram's heart glowed like wild-fire in his weak breast.
Death said nothing more, but raised the hour-glass in his right hand yet higher and higher; and as the sand now ran out more quickly, a soft light streamed from the glass over Sintram's countenance, and then it seemed to him as if eternity in all its calm majesty were rising before him, and a world of confusion dragging him back with a deadly grasp.
"I command thee, wild form that followest me," cried he, "I command thee, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to cease from thy seducing words, and to call thyself by that name by which thou art recorded in Holy Writ!"A name, more fearful than a thunderclap, burst despairingly from the lips of the Tempter, and he disappeared.
"He will return no more," said Death, in a kindly tone.
"And now I am become wholly thine, my stern companion?""Not yet, my Sintram.I shall not come to thee till many, many years are past.But thou must not forget me the while.""I will keep the thought of thee steadily before my soul, thou fearful yet wholesome monitor, thou awful yet loving guide!""Oh! I can truly appear very gentle."
And so it proved indeed.His form became more softly defined in the increasing gleam of light which shone from the hour-glass; the features, which had been awful in their sternness, wore a gentle smile; the crown of serpents became a bright palm-wreath; instead of the horse appeared a white misty cloud in the moonlight; and the bell gave forth sounds as of sweet lullabies.Sintram thought he could hear these words amidst them:
"The world and Satan are o'ercome, Before thee gleams eternal light, Warrior, who hast won the strife:
Save from darkest shades of night Him before whose aged eyes All my terrors soon shall rise."The knight well knew that his father was meant; and he urged on his noble steed, which now obeyed his master willingly and gladly, and the faithful dog also again ran beside him fearlessly.Death had disappeared; but in front of Sintram there floated a bright morning cloud, which continued visible after the sun had risen clear and warm in the bright winter sky.
