A fox and vulture's skeletons

A yawning rift betray'd,

And grappling still each other's bones,
The strife of death display'd.

-"And now, my child," the Sorceress said,

"Lord Wolfwold's father's

grave

"To me shall render up

the dead,

"And send him to my cave.

"His skeleton shall hear my spell,

"And to the figured walls

"His hand of bone shall point, and tell "What fate his son befalls.".

O cold down Ulla's snow-like face
The trembling sweat drops fell,
And, borne by sprites of gliding pace,
The corse approach'd the cell.

And thrice the Witch her magic wand
Waved o'er the skeleton;

And slowly, at the dread command,
Up rose the arm of bone.

A cloven shield and broken spear
The figure wander'd o'er,

Then rested on a sable bier

Distain'd with drops of gore.

In ghastly writhes her mouth, so wide
And black, the Sorceress throws,

"And be those signs, my child," she cried, "Fulfill'd on Wolfwold's foes!

"A happier spell I now shall try; "Attend, my child, attend,

"And mark what flames from altar high, "And lowly floor, ascend.

"If of the roses softest red

"The blaze shines forth to view,

"Then Wolfwold lives-but Hell forbid "The glimmering flame of blue !"

The Witch then raised her haggard arm,
And waved her wand on high;

And, while she spoke the mutter'd charm,
Dark lightning fill'd her eye.

Fair Ulla's knee swift smote the ground,
Her hands aloft were spread,

And every joint as marble bound,

Felt Horror's darkest dread.

Her lips, erewhile so like the rose,
Were now as vi'let pale,

And tumbling in convulsive throes,
Express'd o'erwhelming ail.

Her erewhile so starry bright,

eyes,

Where living lustre shone,

Were now transform'd to sightless white,

Like eyes of lifeless stone.

And soon the dreadful spell was o'er,
And glimmering to the view,

The quivering flame rose through the floor,
A flame of ghastly blue.

Behind the altar's livid fire,

Low from the inmost cave,

Young Wolfwold rose in pale attire,

His eye to Ulla's eye he rear'd,
His cheek was wan as clay,

And half cut through his hand appear'd
That beckon'd her away.

Fair Ulla saw the woeful shade,

Her heart struck at her side,

And burst-low bow'd her listless head,

And down she sunk, and died.