Celestinus, tempted by this insidious proposal, gave his word to serve him faithfully if he fulfilled his engagement.
The devil then produced the following verses:—
Bound by a thong, that passed along
A horse's mangy hide;
Two sheep there lay, as I you say,
One upon either side.
The steed uprose, and upward goes
Each sheep with dangling breech;
Borne by the horse's rapid course,
The miller's hut they reach.
Scattering the fire, with reckless ire,
The rafters caught the flame;
And bleating breed and scabby steed
Were roasted in the same.
Now had that wight, that miller hight,
Vouchsafed his house to keep;
Ere he returned, it had not burned,
Nor burned his horse and sheep.[8]
The boy, made happy by the present, returned home.
Master. "My child, have you stolen your verses, or made them?"
Celest. "I made them, sir."
He then read what we have given above; and the master, struck with the greatest astonishment at their uncommon beauty, exclaimed, "My dear boy, tell me if any one made these verses for you?"
Celest. "No, sir; no one did."
Master. "Unless you tell me the truth, I will flog you till the blood run."
The lad, fearful of what might follow, declared all that occurred, and how he had bound himself to the devil. The preceptor, grieved at the communication, induced the youth to confess himself, and renounce this fearful confederacy. When this was done he became a holy man; and after a well-spent life, gave up his soul to God.