"That," saith he, "thou shalt have; all thou canst carry thou mayst take forth, if thou wilt give me for payment seven more years of service."
Now, when the little bride heard this she bowed her head and wept.
"Seven long years," saith she, "shall I serve thee more." She took Black Roderick by the hand, and stood by him at the open doors. "Go thou upward," saith she, "and await me in heaven."
Then she closed the flaming gates, and took her place behind them. But the soul of Black Roderick crouched outside, as a dog lieth on the threshold of his master. For seven long years he let no one approach the naming gates, so that not once were they opened during the last seven years of her trial. And when the day came for her to go forth, the little bride flung the gates apart with a loud cry of joy. She knew the evil one could but grant the promise she had extorted, for she had served him well.
And of the further trials and temptations that came to her shall I sing thee, lest thou grow weary of my prose:
Seven long years did she serve him well
Until the last day was done;
And all the souls she had let in.
They clung to her one by one.
And all the souls she had let through,
They clung to her dress and hair,
Until the burden that she brought forth
Was heavy as she could bear.
The first who stopped upon her way
Was a Saint all fair to see,
And "Sister, your load is great," she said,
"So give it, I pray, to me."
"Brigit I am; God sent me forth
That you to your love might go"—
The woman she drew the fair robe aside,
And a cloven hoof did show.
"And I will not give it to you," she said,
Quick grasping her burden tight;
And all the souls that surrounded her
Clung closer in dire affright.