Part 36 (2/2)

With rage and pity fill thy heart; Death shall be thy chosen part, Ere such slavery tame thy heart.

But strange, unexpected joy!

They seem to mean thee no annoy-- Gallop off both man and boy.

Let the wild horse freely go!

Almost he shames it should be so; So lightly prized himself to know.

All deception 'tis, O steed!

Ne'er again upon the mead Shalt thou a free wild horse feed.

The mark of man doth blot thy side, The fear of man doth dull thy pride, Thy master soon shall on thee ride.

Thy brethren of the free plain, Joyful speeding back again, With proud career and flowing mane,

Find thee branded, left alone, And their hearts are turned to stone-- They keep thee in their midst alone.

Cruel the intervening years, Seeming freedom stained by fears, Till the captor reappears;

Finds thee with thy broken pride.

Amid thy peers still left aside, Unbeloved and unallied; Finds thee ready for thy fate; For joy and hope 'tis all too late-- Thou'rt wedded to thy sad estate.

Wouldst have the princely spirit bowed?

Whisper only, speak not loud, Mark and leave him in the crowd.

Thou need'st not spies nor jailers have; The free will serve thee like the slave, Coward shrinking from the brave.

And thy cohorts, when they come To take the weary captive home, Need only beat the retreating drum.

EPILOGUE TO THE TRAGEDY OF ESs.e.x.

SPOKEN IN THE CHARACTER OF THE QUEEN.--TRANSLATED FROM GOETHE.

No Ess.e.x here!--unblest--they give no sign.

And shall such live, while earth's best n.o.bleness Departs and leaves her barren? Now too late Weakness and cunning both are exorcised.

How could I trust thee whom I knew so well?

Am I not like the fool of fable? He Who in his bosom warmed the frozen viper, And fancied man might hope for grat.i.tude From the betrayer's seed? Away! begone!

No breath, no sound shall here insult my anguish.

Ess.e.x is dumb, and they shall all be so; No human presence shall control my mood.

Begone, I say! The queen would be alone!

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