The maid, devoid of guile and sin, I know not how, in fearful wise So deeply had she drunken in That look, those shrunken serpent eyes, That all her features were resign'd To this sole image in her mind : And passively did imitate That look of dull and treacherous hate. And thus she stood, in dizzy trance, Still picturing that look askance, Full before her father's view As far as such a look could be, In eyes so innocent and blue! But when the trance was o'er, the maid Paus'd awhile, and inly pray'd, Then falling at her father's feet, "By my mother's soul do I entreat "That thou this woman send away!" Why is thy cheek so wan and wild, The same, for whom thy lady died! O by the pangs of her dear mother Think thou no evil of thy child! For her, and thee, and for no other, She pray'd the moment, ere she died; Pray'd that the babe for whom she died, Might prove her dear lord's joy and pride! That prayer her deadly pangs beguil❜d, Sir Leoline! And would'st thou wrong thy only child, Her child and thine? Within the Baron's heart and brain If thoughts, like these, had any share, And did but work confusion there. His heart was cleft with pain and rage, His cheeks they quiver'd, his eyes were wild, Dishonour'd by his only child, To th' insulted daughter of his friend 1 bade thee hence! The bard obey'd; And turning from his own sweet maid, The aged knight, Sir Leoline, Led forth the lady Geraldine! THE CONCLUSION ΤΟ PART THE SECOND. A little child, a limber elf, A fairy thing with red round cheeks As fills a father's eyes with light; And pleasures flow in so thick and fast Upon his heart, that he at last Must needs express his love's excess With words of unmeant bitterness. |