I yearn’d, at least, to heal her sorrow’d heart,

Forget her wrong, and love her as of old.

But when I found her, my poor girl was dead;

There[1268] on the cruel river’s bank she lay,

The water dripping[1269] from her golden hair—

Those golden ringlets I had fondled oft!

I clasp’d her hand[1270] and gazed into her eyes,

Whose steadfast stare seemed now to pierce me through,

And placed my lips against her clay-cold cheek

Till presently they bore her[1271] from my sight.