XL. (With that she tore her robe apart, and half The polish'd argent of her breast to sight Laid bare. Thereto she pointed with a laugh, Showing the aspick's bite.) XLI. "I died a Queen. The Roman soldier found brows, Me lying dead, my crown about my Worthy a Roman spouse." XLII. Her warbling voice, a lyre of widest range Struck by all passion, did fall down and glance From tone to tone, and glided thro' all change Of liveliest utterance. XLIII. When she made pause I knew not for delight; Because with sudden motion from the ground She raised her piercing orbs, and fill'd with light The interval of sound. XLIV. Still with their fires Love tipt his keenest darts; As once they drew into two burning rings All beams of Love, melting the mighty hearts Of captains and of kings. XLV. Then I heard Slowly my sense undazzled. A noise of some one coming thro' the lawn, And singing clearer than the crested bird, That claps his wings at dawn. XLVI. "The torrent brooks of hallow'd Israel From craggy hollows pouring, late and soon, Sound all night long, in falling thro' the dell, Far-heard beneath the moon. XLVII. "The balmy moon of blessed Israel Floods all the deep-blue gloom with beams divine: All night the splinter'd crags that wall the dell With spires of silver shine." XLVIII. As one that museth where broad sunshine laves The lawn by some cathedral, thro' the door Hearing the holy organ rolling waves Of sound on roof and floor XLIX. Within, and anthem sung, is charm'd and tied To where he stands,-so stood I, when that flow Of music left the lips of her that died To save her father's vow; L. The daughter of the warrior Gileadite, A maiden pure; as when she went along From Mizpeh's tower'd gate with welcome light, With timbrel and with song. LI. My words leapt forth: "Heaven heads the count of crimes With that wild oath." She render'd answer high: "Not so, nor once alone; a thousand times I would be born and die. LII. 66 Single I grew, like some green plant, whose root Creeps to the garden water-pipes beneath, Feeding the flower; but ere my flower to fruit Changed, I was ripe for death. LIII. "My God, my land, my father-these did move Me from my bliss of life, that Nature gave, Lower'd softly with a threefold chord of love Shall smile away my maiden blame among The Hebrew mothers'-emptied of all joy, Leaving the dance and song, LV. "Leaving the olive-gardens far below, Leaving the promise of my bridal bower, The valleys of grape-loaded vines that glow Beneath the battled tower. 66 LVI. 'The light white cloud swam over us. Anon We heard the lion roaring in his den; LVII. "Saw God divide the night with flying flame, I heard Him, for He spake, and grief became LVIII. "When the next moon was roll'd into the sky, Strength came to me that equall'd my desire. How beautiful a thing it was to die For God and for my sire! LIX. “It comforts me in this one thought to dwell, That I subdued me to my father's will; Because the kiss he gave me, ere I fell, Sweetens the spirit still. |