"To his full wish, the kingly presence left,
Buoyant and bright with hope; dreaming of nought
While revelled his full soul in visions deft,
But blessings from his sire and pleasures of a court.
XX.
"But when his mother heard, she wept; and said
If he our only child be far away
Or slain in war; how shall our years be stayed?
Friendless and old, where is the hand to lay
"Our white hairs in the earth?—So when her fears
He saw would not be calmed, he did not part,
But lived in low estate, to dry her tears,
And crushed the full-grown-hopes, exulting at his heart."
XXI.
"The old man ceased; ere I could speak, his face
Grew more than mortail fair: a mellow light
Mantling around him fill'd the shady place
And while I wondering stood; he vanished from my sight.
XXII.
"This I had told,—but shame withheld—and fear
Thou'dst deem some spirit guilded me—disapprove—
Perchance forbid my customed wanderings here;
But whencesoe'er the vision, I have strove
"Still vainly to forget—I've heard the mourn
Kindred afar, and captive—oh! my mother—
Should he—my heaven announced—exist, return—
And meet me drear—lost—wedded to another"—
Then thus Sephora, "In the city where
Our kindred distant dwelt—blood has been shed—
Dreamer, had such heroic boy been there,
Belike he's numbered with the silent dead.