And bird-like buzzed her wings round Guido's brow,

Not much truth stiffened out the web of words

He wove to catch her: when away she flew

And death came, death's breath rivelled up the lies,

Left bare the metal thread, the fibre fine

Of truth, i' the spinning: the true words shone last.

How Guido, to another purpose quite,

Speaks and despairs, the last night of his life,

In that New Prison by Castle Angelo

At the bridge-foot: the same man, another voice.