PIPER
Lady, you have bewitched him.
MICHAEL
Oh! dear Lady,
With you—with you, I dare not ope my mouth
Saving to sing, or pray!
PIPER
Let it be singing!
Lad, 't is a wildered maiden, with no home
Save only thee; and she is more a child
Than yesterday.
MICHAEL
Oh, lordly, wondrous world!—
How is it, Sweet, you smile upon me now?
BARBARA
Sure I have ever smiled on thee. How not?
Art thou not Michael?—And thou lovest me.
And I love thee!—If I unloved thee ever,
It was some spell.—
[Rapturously]
But this,—ah, This is I!
[MICHAEL, on his knees, winds his arms about her.
PIPER
[softly]
It is all true,—all true. Lad, do not doubt;
The golden cage is broken.
MICHAEL
Oh! more strange
Than morning dreams! I am like one new-born;
I am a speechless babe.—And this is she,
My Moon I cried for,—here,—
PIPER
It is thy bride.
MICHAEL
Thou wilt not fear to come with me?
BARBARA
With thee?
With thee! Ah, look! What have I more than thee?
And thou art mine, tall fellow! How comes it now
Right happily that I am pranked so fair!
[She touches her fineries, her long pearl-strings, joyously]
And all this came so near to burying;
This!