2.

Ev'n while she dream'd, in silence pass'd,
Moon-lighted gloomily,
A wanderer through the forest vast,
Unto the Throne of Mystery
Bearing a child,
That gaz'd around her in surprise,
Or innocently smil'd,
Looking on him, with Konig's eyes
Of deep, deep, darkest blue,
Almost to blackness deepen'd, yet
Blue as Carpathia's violet.
But soon in fear her arms she threw
Around his neck; for the dim light
Made darkness touchable to sight;
Nor darkness only. Through the dusk

1.

While to the she-wolf from afar
Her prowling mate replied,
And muffled moon, and riddled star,
Glimps'd on the dusk lake's mirror wide;
Asleep, and dreaming, Etheline
Rock'd on her bosom Telmarine,
At lonest Waterside.
Spirit of all that lives to die!
Relate her dream of agony.
She thought, a shape of darkness bow'd
Heav'n's concave, crushing in her breath,
As with the weight of cloud on cloud
To rock-like substance press'd;
And two pale arms snatch'd from her breast

BOOK III.

O'er " Wharncliffe of the Demons " thou,
Dear Ellen, hast a wanderer been:
Thy second letter places now
Before my soul the beauteous scene.
But thou hast nam'd a name that brings
Back the deplor'd and hopeless past,
And o'er remember'd Wharncliffe flings
An angel's shadow, flitting fast.
Why did'st thou name that mournful name?
Beautiful in its worth and woe,
Over my sadden'd heart it came,
Like funeral music, wailing low;
Or like a deep cathedral toll,

17.

In envy, hatred, jealousy,
In sorrowing pride's intensity,
(Worst madness of worst misery,)
On fearful thoughts his spirit feasts;
And he will seek the King of Priests,
Though doom'd to die, if he draw nigh
The hallow'd kernel of the wood,
His dwelling long ago;
Where Mystery, fed on " weeping blood, "
Is restless as a wintry flood,
And cold as mountain-snow;
Restless as fire! yet still unchang'd;
Or as the changeful, never chang'd,
Unalterable sky!

16.

" Follow me, Lord! " he yell'd aloud;
And Konig, fearless, follow'd him,
Entering the forest's mazes dim,
In sadness bow'd.
They travers'd realms of verdant night,
And many a treeless isle of light,
Whose peaceful bliss the eyes of Love
Watch'd fondly through the blue above;
A wilderness of shaded flowers;
A wilderness of virgin-bowers;
Of beauty (calm, not passionless,)
And lonely song, a wilderness;
For on, on, far and long, they went
Through paths of green bewilderment,

14.

Lo, while he listen'd, Adwick came!
Bare were his limbs, his breast was bare.
Blue, glitter'd through his matted nair
His pain-chang'd eyes of ghastly flame,
As if a wintry tempest threw
Cold lightning on their freezing blue;
And these wild words he utter'd there:
" The crow doth croak. What croaketh he?
" Dead horse! dead horse!" Where may it be?
At Cadeby-Force it lies a corse,
And there a dead maid, near the horse.
The lean crow croak'd, " At Cadeby-Force
I come to feed, dead horse, dead horse!

12.

When ceas'd that voice " whose speech was song. "
Still Konig fondly listen'd long.
" Thou art not here? " at length, he cried,
" Thou trouble-tried, and purified!
Thy voice I heard, but where art thou?
Oh, let me see thee! see thee now!
Yet, ere this fever'd dream is o'er,
Let me embrace thee! — once, once more! "
Then, said the voice " whose speech was song, "
" If thou would'st see me yet again
Where human weakness dwells with pain,
Go, follow him, whose eyes of hate
Have watch'd thee early, watch'd thee late,

10.

" Not lonely here? " confus'd, he said;
And from his lip its colour fled,
When, at her feet, he saw a child,
The little foundling, Telmarine.
With Telma's smile, on him it smil'd,
With Telma's locks of raven hue,
And upturn'd eyes of darkest blue.
Confus'd, he nam'd its mother's name!
While pale, as death's cold brow, became
The cheek of Etheline.

11.

" Telma! " he said; nor waited long
Ere seem'd at once to come and go
The shadow of a shape of woe,
(Like the last look of kindness sent

9.

He said, and from his forehead fair
Strok'd back dark locks of glossy hair,
Smiling in scorn. She wrongly deem'd
That he was tranquil as he seem'd,
And, cautious, answer'd — boastfully
Feigning a false security:
" If we have caus'd his many sorrows,
Shall I hate him who suffers for us?
My father lov'd the outcast man
Whom priest and priestling therefore ban,
For well they know that Adwick knows
How vain are all their shams and shows!
But though the power that awes ev'n thee
Might well appal a maid like me,

8.

" Daughter of merchant strangers! thou
Endanger'd art, and lonely now.
Within a bow-shot of my tower,
I have a shelter'd plot and bower;
There dwell thou safe, my queen and guest;
This I, who might command, request.
For who seeks now thy dwelling lonely?
Fish-eating, hare-fed Adwick only —
A head-long, blaze-brain'd, wisdom-troubling
Fool, with new good old evils doubling;
And thou, by shielding that doom'd man,
Incurr'st the King-Priest's deadly ban.
Well saith the saw of ancient date,