‘At first,’ he said, ‘as Julia bade me tell,

She bore her fate high-mindedly and well,

Resolved from common eyes her grief to hide,

And from the world’s compassion saved our pride;

But still her health gave way to secret woe,

And long she pined—for broken hearts die slow!

Her reason went, but came returning, like

The warning of her death-hour—soon to strike;

And all for which she now, poor sufferer! sighs,

Is once to see Theodric ere she dies.