Folding his hands deals comfortable words

To hearts wounded for ever; yet, in truth,

Fair speech was his and delicate of phrase,

Falling in whispers on the sense, address'd

More to the inward than the outward ear,

As rain of the midsummer midnight soft

Scarce-heard, recalling fragrance and the green

Of the dead spring—such as in other minds

Had film'd the margents of the recent wound.

And why was I to darken their pure love,