The heart-sick yearning of the exile’s breast,

The haunting sounds of voices far away,

And household steps: until at last she lay

On her lone couch of sickness, lost in dreams

Of the gay vineyards and blue rushing streams

In her own sunny land; and murmuring oft

Familiar names, in accents wild yet soft,

To strangers round that bed, who knew not aught

Of the deep spells wherewith each word was fraught.

To strangers? Oh! could strangers raise the head