“You a leaden cloak fast soldered
Round your neck must henceforth wear,
Wear for seven years, and daily
Other penance must you bear.
“Daily, at the hour of noontide,
Fasting, you must wend your way.
Up to yonder mountain summit:
There a little stream doth play.
From that little mountain streamlet,
Water you must bear away.”
“Holy hermit, only say
What your will, and I obey.”
When the seven years were ended,
Bared his heels were to the bone,
Where the leaden cloak had worn them;
Long and grey his hair had grown.
Grey his beard flowed o’er his girdle;
Any who his form had seen
Had a hoary oak-tree thought him,
Which for sev’n years dead had been.