Volume IV Part 15 (1/2)

III.

Never was lady on earth more true as woman and wife, Larger in judgment and instinct, prouder in manners and life.

IV.

She stood in the early morning, and said to her maidens ”Bring That silken robe made ready to wear at the Court of the King.

V.

”Bring me the clasps of diamond, lucid, clear of the mote, Clasp me the large at the waist, and clasp me the small at the throat.

VI.

”Diamonds to fasten the hair, and diamonds to fasten the sleeves, Laces to drop from their rays, like a powder of snow from the eaves.”

VII.

Gorgeous she entered the sunlight which gathered her up in a flame, While, straight in her open carriage, she to the hospital came.

VIII.

In she went at the door, and gazing from end to end, ”Many and low are the pallets, but each is the place of a friend.”

IX.

Up she pa.s.sed through the wards, and stood at a young man's bed: b.l.o.o.d.y the band on his brow, and livid the droop of his head.

X.

”Art thou a Lombard, my brother? Happy art thou,” she cried, And smiled like Italy on him: he dreamed in her face and died.

XI.

Pale with his pa.s.sing soul, she went on still to a second: He was a grave hard man, whose years by dungeons were reckoned.

XII.

Wounds in his body were sore, wounds in his life were sorer.

”Art thou a Romagnole?” Her eyes drove lightnings before her.

XIII.

”Austrian and priest had joined to double and tighten the cord Able to bind thee, O strong one,--free by the stroke of a sword.

XIV.

”Now be grave for the rest of us, using the life overcast To ripen our wine of the present (too new) in glooms of the past.”

XV.