“And yet thou wouldst not if thou couldst,” said the Neck.

“If it be in thy power to prove me—­prove me!” cried the maiden; “for indeed he is the only stay of aged parents, and he is young and unprepared for death.  Moreover his life is dearer to me than my own.”

Then the Neck related his own story, and said, “If thou wilt do this for me, which none yet has done whom I have benefited, I will play upon my harp, and if the winds wisht, thou must die this easy death; but if I fail in my part, I shall not expect thine to be fulfilled.  And we must both abide what shall befall, even as others.”  And to this the maiden consented most willingly.  Only she said, “Do this for me, I beg of thee.  Let him come so near that I may just see his face before I die.”  And it was so agreed.

Then the aged Neck drew forth his harp and began to play.  And as he played the wind stayed, as one who pauses to hearken with cleft lips, and the lake rose and fell gently, like the bosom of a girl moved by some plaintive song, and the sun burst forth as if to see who made such sweet music.  And so through this happy change the young man got safe to land.  Then the Neck turned to the maiden and said, “Dost thou hold to thy promise?” And she bowed her head.

“In the long life be thy recompense!” cried the Neck, fervently, and taking his harp again, he poured his whole spirit into the strain.  And as he played, it seemed as if the night wind moaned among pine-trees, but it was more mournful.  And it was as the wail of a mother for her only son, and yet fuller of grief.  Or like a Dead March wrung from the heart of a great musician—­loading the air with sorrow—­and yet all these were as nothing to it for sadness.  And when the maiden heard it, it was more than she could bear, and her heart broke, as the Neck had said.  Then the young man sprang to shore, and when she could see his face clearly, her soul passed, and her body fell like a snapped flower to the earth.

Now when the young man knew what was befallen, he fell upon the Neck to kill him, who said, “Thou mayest spare thyself this trouble, for in a few moments I shall be dead.  But do thou take my robe and my harp, and thou shalt be a famous musician.”

Now even as the Neck spoke the sun sank, and he fell upon his face.  And when the young man lifted the robe, behold there was nothing under it but the harp, across which there swept such a wild and piteous chord that all the strings burst as if with unutterable grief.

Then the young man lifted the body of his sweetheart in his arms, and carried her home, and she was buried with many tears.

And in due time he put fresh strings to the harp, which, though it was not as when it was in the hands of the Neck, yet it made most exquisite music.  And the young man became a famous musician.  For out of suffering comes song.

Furthermore, he occupied himself in good works until that his time also came.