"Dost swear?" "I swear!" They glided
Up the stairs and through the door,
With her wand the magic Mother
Draws a circle on the floor.
Grains of yellow corn, seven,
Takes she from a sack beside,
Draws the gold ring of her lover
From the finger of the bride.—
"Seven children would have stolen
Light and beauty from thine eyes,
But as I cast the yellow corn
Through thy gold ring, each one dies.
Slowly creaked the mill, then faster
Whirled the giant arms on high;
Shuddering, hears the trembling maiden
Crushing bones, and infant's cry.
Now there is a deathlike silence,
Thekla hears her heart alone—
Again the weird one flings the corn,
Again that plaintive infant's moan.
Two—three—four—the mill goes faster,
Whirling, crushing.—Ah! those cries!
"Bride, thou'lt never be a mother;
Thy beauty's saved—the seventh dies!"
Seven turns the mill hath taken,
Seven moans hath Thekla heard;
Then all is still. The moon from Heaven
Shines down calm upon the sward.
"Now take back thy ring in safety;
Mother's joy or mother's woe,
Wasting pain or fading beauty,
Maiden, thou shalt never know!
"Home, before the morning hour!"
Home in terror Thekla flies,
Shuddering, she hears behind her
Laugh of scorn, infants' cries.