By the fierce fever as a green reed shaken,
The haughty chief of thousands—the forsaken
Of all save one. She fled not. Day by day—
Such hours are woman’s birthright—she, unknown,
Kept watch beside him, fearless and alone;
Binding his wounds, and oft in silence laving
His brow with tears that mourn’d the strong man’s raving.
He felt them not, nor mark’d the light veil’d form
Still hovering nigh! yet sometimes, when that storm
Of frenzy sank, her voice, in tones as low