r good
purpose for one instant."

Thereupon he left the room with the willing castellan, but he turned
back to say, "Sir Knight and your esquire! take good care the while of
my sick charge."

Sintram and Rolf did according to the chaplain's desire: and when at
length their cordials made the pilgrim open his eyes once again, the
young knight said to him, with a friendly smile, "Seest thou? thou art
come to visit me after all. Why didst thou refuse me when, a few nights
ago, I asked thee so earnestly to come? Perhaps I may have spoken wildly
and hastily. Did that scare thee away?"

A sudden expression of fear came over the pilgrim's countenance; but
soon he again looked up at Sintram with an air of gentle humility,
saying, "O my dear, dear lord, I am most entirely devoted to you--only
never speak to me of former passages between you and me. I am terrified
whenever you do it. For, my lord, either I am mad and have forgotten all
that is past, or that Being has met you in the wood, whom I look upon as
my very powerful twin brother."

Sintram laid his hand gently on the pilgrim's mouth, as he answered,
"Say nothing more about that matter: I most willingly promise to be
silent."

Neither he nor old Rolf could understand what appeared to them so awful
in the whole matter; but both shuddered.

After a short pause the pilgrim said, "I would rather sing you a song--a
soft, comforting song. Have you not a lute here?"

Rolf fetched one; and the pilgrim, half-raising himself on the couch,
sang the following words:

"When death is coming near,
When thy heart shrinks in fear
And thy limbs fail,
Then raise thy hands and pray
To Him who smooths thy way
Through the dark vale.

Seest thou the eastern dawn,
Hearst thou in the red morn
The angel's song?
Oh, lift thy drooping head,
Thou who in gloom and dread
Hast lain so long.

Death comes to set thee free;
Oh, meet him cheerily
As thy true friend,
And all thy fears shall cease,
And in eternal peace
Thy penance end."

"Amen," said Sintram and Rolf, folding their hands; and whilst the last
chords of the lute still re