To his wan lips * * *

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

“My son! look up and tell thy dismal tale.

Thou seemest cold, and sorrowful, and pale.

Alas! I fear that thou hast strangely been

A child of curse, and misery, and sin.

And this,—is she thy sister?”—“nay! my bride.”

“Anon! and thou?”—“True, true! but then she died,

And was a virgin, and is virgin still,