Lur. My heart will have it he speaks true! My blood

Beats close to this Tiburzio as a friend.

If he had stept into my watch-tent, night

And the wild desert full of foes around,

I should have broke the bread and given the salt

Secure, and, when my hour of watch was done,

Taken my turn to sleep between his knees

Safe in the untroubled brow and honest cheek.

Oh world, where all things pass and naught abides,

Oh life, the long mutation—is it so?