Page:Popular Tales of the Germans (Volume 1).djvu/252

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234
THE STEALING

her ſilken wings, and ſailed away towards the ſkies.

It was now the old lady’s turn to be thunder-ſtruck by ſurprize at the ſtrange metamorphoſis. She croſſed herſelf, uttered a loud ſhriek, and recommended herſelf to the holy Virgin; for as ſhe harboured the rude notions of her age, concerning the intellectual world, ſhe concluded the beautiful Calliſta to be either a ghoſt or a devil in diſguiſe. The truſty Friedbert appeared at once in the light of a ſorcerer and magician; which conſideration threw her into deep ſorrow, and made her devoutly wish he had rather been killed in battle, like a good Chriſtian, than have thus fallen into the ſnares of Satan. Friedbert apprehended nothing of the ſad cataſtrophe which had taken place in his abſence. Towards evening he returned briſk and chearful; and ran nimbly up ſtairs, without laying aſide his whip and ſpurs, eager to embrace his lovely bride. As he opened the door, he was ſtruck full in theface