VI.

Else it loses what it lived for, and eternally must lose it;
Better ends may be in prospect, deeper blisses (if you choose it),
But this life's end and this love-bliss have been lost here.

Doubt you whether

This she felt as, looking at me, mine and her souls rushed together?

VII.

Oh, observe! Of course, next moment, the world's honors, in derision,

Trampled out the light forever. Never fear but there's provision Of the Devil's to quench knowledge, lest we walk the earth in rapture!

-Making those who catch God's secret, just so much more prize their capture!

VIII.

Such am I the secret's mine now! She has lost me, I have gained her;

Her soul's mine; and thus, grown perfect, I shall pass my life's remainder.

Life will just hold out the proving both our powers, alone and

blended;

And then, come next life quickly! This world's use will have been ended.

COUNT GISMOND.

AIX IN PROVENCE.

I.

CHRIST God who savest man, save most
Of men Count Gismond who saved me!
Count Gauthier, when he chose his post,
Chose time and place and company
To suit it when he struck at length
My honor, 'twas with all his strength.

II.

And doubtlessly, ere he could draw

All points to one, he must have schemed!

That miserable morning saw

Few half so happy as I seemed,

While being dressed in queen's array

To give our tourney prize away.

III.

I thought they loved me, did me grace To please themselves: 'twas all their deed.

God makes, or fair or foul, our face : If showing mine so caused to bleed

My cousins' hearts, they should have dropped

A word, and straight the play had stopped.

V.

But no they let me laugh, and sing
My birthday song quite through, adjust
The last rose in my garland, fling

A last look on the mirror, trust
My arms to each an arm of theirs,
And so descend the castle-stairs-

VI.

And come out on the morning troop
Of merry friends who kissed my cheek,
And called me queen, and made me stoop
Under the canopy-(a streak

That pierced it, of the outside sun,
Powdered with gold its gloom's soft dun)—

VII.

And they could let me take my state
And foolish throne amid applause

Of all come there to celebrate

My queen's-day-Oh, I think the cause Of much was, they forgot no crowd Makes up for parents in their shroud !

VIII.

However that be, all eyes were bent
Upon me, when my cousins cast

Theirs down; 'twas time I should present

The victor's crown, but . . . there, 'twill last

No long time. . . the old mist again

Blinds me as then it did.

IX.

How vain!

See! Gismond's at the gate, in talk
With his two boys: I can proceed.
Well, at that moment, who should stalk
Forth boldly-to my face, indeed—
But Gauthier? and he thundered “Stay!”
And all staid. "Bring no crowns, I say!

X.

"Bring torches! Wind the penance-sheet About her! Let her shun the chaste,

Or lay herself before their feet!

Shall she, whose body I embraced A night long, queen it in the day? For honor's sake no crowns, I say!”

I never fancied such a thing As answer possible to give.

What says the body when they spring Some monstrous torture-engine's whole Strength on it? No more says the soul.

XII.

Till out strode Gismond: then I knew
That I was saved. I never met
His face before; but, at first view,

I felt quite sure that God had set
Himself to Satan who would spend
A minute's mistrust on the end?

Did I not watch him while he let

His armorer just brace his greaves,

Rivet his hauberk, on the fret

The while! His foot. . . my memory leaves No least stamp out, nor how anon

He pulled his ringing gauntlets on.

XVI.

And e'en before the trumpet's sound

Was finished, prone lay the false knight,

Prone as his lie, upon the ground:

Gismond flew at him, used no sleight O' the sword, but open-breasted drove, Cleaving till out the truth he clove.

XVII.

Which done, he dragged him to my feet,
And said, "Here die, but end thy breath

In full confession, lest thou fleet

From my first to God's second death!

Say, hast thou lied?" And, “I have lied
To God and her," he said, and died.

XVIII.

Then Gismond, kneeling to me, asked

What safe my heart holds, though no word

Could I repeat now, if I tasked

My powers forever, to a third,

Dear even as you are. Pass the rest

Until I sank upon his breast.

XIX.

Over my head his arm he flung

Against the world; and scarce I felt
His sword (that dripped by me and swung)
A little shifted in its belt,

For he began to say the while

How South our home lay many a mile.

XX.

So 'mid the shouting multitude

We two walked forth to never more
Return. My cousins have pursued
Their life, untroubled as before

I vexed them. Gauthier's dwelling-place
God lighten! May his soul find grace!

XXI.

Our elder boy has got the clear

Great brow; though when his brother's black Full eye shows scorn, it . . . Gismond here ? And have you brought my tercel back?

I was just telling Adela

How

many birds it struck since May.

EURYDICE TO ORPHEUS.

A PICTURE BY FREDERICK LEIGH TON, R. A.

BUT give them me, the mouth, the eyes, the brow!
Let them once more absorb me! One look now
Will lap me round forever, not to pass

Out of its light, though darkness lie beyond :
Hold me but safe again within the bond

Of one immortal look! All woe that was,
Forgotten, and all terror that may be,

Defied, -no past is mine, no future look at me!