And  Time  passed  on ; — Ambition,  Pride,
Long  since  hath  in  his  bosom  died  ;
In  a  strange  land  he  dwelt,  and  earned
The  bread  which  fed  the  life  he  spurned ;
When  at  his  door  there  lighted  down
A  horseman  from  his  native  town  ; —


18  CONSTANCY.
Herald  of  Woe  ! — In  haste  he  sped

To  kneel  beside  her  dying  bed  ; —

One  prayer  for  grace — one  hurried  glance  ;

Is  this  the  sunny  countenance  ?

Are  these  pale  features,  sharp  and  wan,

The  lights  he  used  to  gaze  upon  ?

She  weeps, — she  calls  upon  his  name, —

That  low,  sweet  voice, — it  is  the  same  ; —

For  ever  in  his  ears  will  live

That  agonizing  cry — "  Forgive  ! "

Once  more  she  lies  upon  his  heart.
Once  more  she  feels  herself  a  part

Of  his  own  being,  and  to  Death

Yields  on  his  lips  her  latest  breath,

For  in  that  moment  he  confest

He  loved  her  well, — he  loved  her  best.
Rest  for  the  weary  limbs,  and  balm

To  soothe  the  aching  heart,  and  rays
From  the  celestial  orb,  to  calm

The  soul  that  walks  in  troubled  ways !
His  toil  resumed,  no  more  he  turns
From  kindly  looks  away,  nor  spurns
Of  friendliness  the  word  and  hand
Which  bound  him  to  his  Fatherland ;


CONSTANCY.  1"9

And  that  deep  sense  of  lovely  things,

The  feeling  whence  all  power  springs

T'  emhody  with  religious  zeal

Types  for  the  universal  weal,

Again  breaks  forth ;  with  loftier  truth

The  genius  of  his  gifted  youth

Returns  again ; — ^his  breast  once  more

Eeflects  her  image  as  of  yore.
