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pride。〃 One day some childish fever pain Burnt in my veins and fired my
brain。 Moaning； I turned from side to side； And； sobbing in my bed； I cried；
Till night in calm and darkness crept Around me； and at last I slept。 When
suddenly I woke to see The Lady bending over me。 The drops of cold
November rain Were falling from her long； damp hair； Her anxious eyes
were dim with pain； Yet she looked wondrous fair。 Arrayed for some great
feast she came； With stones that shone and burnt like flame； Wound round
her neck； like some bright snake； And set like stars within her hair； They
sparkled so； they seemed to make A glory everywhere。 I felt her tears upon
my face； Her kisses on my eyes； And a strange thought I could not trace I
felt within my heart arise； And； half in feverish pain； I said： 〃Oh if my
mother were not dead！〃 And Walter bade me sleep； but she Said； 〃Is it not
the same to thee That _I_ watch by thy bed？〃 I answered her； 〃I love you；
too； But it can never be the same； She was no Countess like to you； Nor
wore such sparkling stones of flame。〃 Oh the wild look of fear and dread！
The cry she gave of bitter woe！ I often wonder what I said To make her
moan and shudder so。 Through the long night she tended me With such
sweet care and charity。 But should weary you to tell All that I know and
love so well： Yet one night more stands out alone With a sad sweetness all
its own。
The wind blew loud that dreary night： Its wailing voice I well
remember： The stars shone out so large and bright Upon the frosty fir…
boughs white； That dreary night of cold December。 I saw old Walter silent
stand； Watching the soft white flakes of snow With looks I could not
understand； Of strange perplexity and woe。 At last he turned and took my
hand； And said the Countess just had sent To bid us come； for she would
fain See me once more； before she went Awaynever to come again。 We
came in silence through the wood （Our footfall was the only sound） To
where the great white castle stood； With darkness shadowing it around。
Breathless； we trod with cautious care Up the great echoing marble stair；
Trembling； by Walter's hand I held； Scared by the splendours I beheld：
Now thinking； 〃Should the Earl appear！〃 Now looking up with giddy fear
To the dim vaulted roof； that spread Its gloomy arches overhead。 Long
corridors we softly past； （My heart was beating loud and fast） And reached
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the Lady's room at last： A strange faint odour seemed to weigh Upon the
dim and darkened air； One shaded lamp； with softened ray； Scarce showed
the gloomy splendour there。 The dull red brands were burning low； And
yet a fitful gleam of light； Would now and then； with sudden glow； Start
forth； then sink again in night。 I gazed around； yet half in fear； Till Walter
told me to draw near： And in the strange and flickering light； Towards the
Lady's bed I crept； All folded round with snowy white； She lay； （one
would have said she slept；） So still the look of that white face； It seemed
as it were carved in stone； I paused before I dared to place Within her cold
white hand my own。 But； with a smile of sweet surprise； She turned to me
her dreamy eyes； And slowly； as if life were pain； She drew me in her
arms to lie： She strove to speak； and strove in vain； Each breath was like a
long…drawn sigh。 The throbs that seemed to shake her breast； The
trembling clasp； so loose and weak； At last grew calmer； and at rest； And
then she strove once more to speak： 〃My God； I thank thee； that my pain
Of day by day and year by year； Has not been suffered all in vain； And I
may die while he is near。 I will not fear but that Thy grace Has swept away
my sin and woe； And sent this little angel face； In my last hour to tell me
so。〃 （And here her voice grew faint and low；） 〃My child； where'er thy life
may go； To know that thou art brave and true； Will pierce the highest
heavens through； And even there my soul shall be More joyful for this
thought of thee。〃 She folded her white hands； and stayed； All cold and
silently she lay： I knelt beside the bed； and prayed The prayer she used to
make me say。 I said it many times； and then She did not move； but seemed
to be In a deep sleep； nor stirred again。 No sound woke in the silent room；
Or broke the dim and solemn gloom； Save when the brands that burnt so
low； With noisy fitful gleam of light； Would spread around a sudden glow；
Then sink in silence and in night。 How long I stood I do not know： At last
poor Walter came； and said （So sadly） that we now must go； And
whispered； she we loved was dead。 He bade me kiss her face once more；
Then led me sobbing to the door。 I scarcely knew what dying meant； Yet a
strange grief； before unknown； Weighed on my spirit as we went And left
her lying all alone。
We went to the far North once more； To seek the well…remembered
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home； Where my poor kinsman dwelt before； Whence now he was too old
to roam； And there six happy years we past； Happy and peaceful till the
last； When poor old Walter died； and he Blessed me and said I now might
be A sailor on the deep blue sea。 And so I go； and yet in spite Of all the
joys I long to know； Though I look onward with delight； With something
of regret I go； And young or old； on land or sea； One guiding memory I
shall take … Of what She prayed that I might be； And what I will be for her
sake！
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VERSE： A CROWN OF
SORROW
A Sorrow； wet with early tears Yet bitter； had been long with me； I
wearied of this weight of years； And would be free。
I tore my Sorrow from my heart； I cast it far away in scorn； Right
joyful that we two could part … Yet most forlorn。
I sought； （to take my Sorrow's place；） Over the world for flower or
gem … But she had had an ancient grace Unknown to them。
I took once more with strange delight My slighted Sorrow； proudly
now； I wear it； set with stars of light； Upon my brow。
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VERSE： THE LESSON OF THE
WAR （1855）
The feast is spread through England For rich and poor to…day；
Greetings and laughter may be there； But thoughts are far away； Over the
stormy ocean； Over the dreary track； Where some are gone； whom
England Will never welcome back。
Breathless she waits； and listens For every eastern breeze That bears
upon its bloody wings News from beyond the seas。 The leafless branches
stirring Make many a watcher start； The distant tramp of steed may send A
throb from heart to heart。
The rulers of the nation； The poor ones at their gate； With the same
eager wonder The same great news await。 The poor man's stay and
comfort； The rich man's joy and pride； Upon the bleak Crimean shore Are
fighting side by side。
The bullet comesand either A desolate hearth may see； And God
alone to…night knows where The vacant place may be！ The dread that stirs
the peasant Thrills nobles' hearts with fear … Yet above selfish sorrow Both
hold their country dear。
The rich man who reposes In his ancestral shade； The peasant at his
ploughshare； The worker at his trade； Each one his all his perilled； Each
has the same great stake； Each soul can but have patience； Each heart can
only break！
Hushed is all party clamour； One thought in every heart； One dread in
every household； Has bid such strife depart。 England has called her
children； Long silentthe word came That lit the smouldering ashes
Through