As her black tresses to the night-wind flew,

Something o’ermaster’d them from that young mien—

Something of heaven in silence felt and seen;

And seeming, to their childlike faith, a token

That the Great Spirit by her voice had spoken.

They loosed the bonds that held their captive’s breath;

From his pale lips they took the cup of death;

They quench’d the brand beneath the cypress tree:

“Away,” they cried, “young stranger, thou art free!”

COSTANZA.