582 JAMES CLERK MAXWELL. 



" Tell me, vile witch, or I swear thou shalt rue it !" 

 " Thou art the murderer," answered the seer. 



VI. 



"Am I a dog that I'd do such an action !" 



Answered the chief as in anger he rose, 

 " Would I, ungrateful, be head of a faction, 



And call myself one of Nathalocus' foes ? " 

 " No more," said the witch, " the enchantment is ended, 

 I brave not the wrath of the demon offended, 

 Whatever thy fate, 'tis not now to be mended." 



So the stranger returned through the thick - driving 

 snows. 



VII. 



High from his eyrie the eagle was screaming, 

 Pale sheeted spectres stalked over the heath ; 



Bright in his mind's eye a dagger was gleaming, 

 Waiting the moment to spring from its sheath. 



Hoarse croaked the raven that eastward was flying ; 



Well did he know of the king that was dying; 



Down in the river the Kelpie was sighing, 

 Mourning the king in the water beneath. 



VIII. 



His mind was confused with this terrible warning, 

 Horrible spectres were with him by night ; 



Still in his sorrow he wished for the morning, 

 Cursing the day when he first saw the light. 



He said in his raving, " The day that she bore me, 



Would that my mother in pieces had tore me ; 



See there is Nathalocus' body before me; 



Hence, ye vain shadows, depart from my sight!" 



IX. 



And when from the palace the king sent to meet him, 

 To ask what response from the witch he might bear ; 



When the messenger thought that the strangerwould greet him, 

 He answered by nought but a meaningless stare. 



