. Lucile. scarce what he did,To her side through the chamber he silently slid,And knelt down beside her—and prayd at her side. XI. Upstarting, she then for the first time descriedThat her husband was near her; suffused with the blushWhich came oer her soft pallid cheek with a gushWhere the tears sparkled yet. As a young fawn with fear, from the fern where some hunter approaches,She shrank back ; he caught her, and circling his armRound her waist, on her brow pressd one kiss long and her fear changed in impulse ; and hiding her faceOn his breast, she hung lockd in a clin
. Lucile. scarce what he did,To her side through the chamber he silently slid,And knelt down beside her—and prayd at her side. XI. Upstarting, she then for the first time descriedThat her husband was near her; suffused with the blushWhich came oer her soft pallid cheek with a gushWhere the tears sparkled yet. As a young fawn with fear, from the fern where some hunter approaches,She shrank back ; he caught her, and circling his armRound her waist, on her brow pressd one kiss long and her fear changed in impulse ; and hiding her faceOn his breast, she hung lockd in a clinging embraceWith her soft arms wound heavily round him, as thoughShe feard, if their clasp were relaxd, he would go:Her smooth naked shoulders, uncared for, convulsedBy sob after sob, while her bosom yet pulsedIn its pressure on his, as the effort within itLived and died with each tender tumultuous minute. O Alfred, O Alfred ! forgive me, she cried— Forgive me ! Forgive you, my poor child ! he sighd ;. CANTO IV. LUC ILK. 195 But I never have blamed you for aught that I know, And I have not one thought that reproaches you now. From her arms he unwound himself gently. And so He forced her down softly beside him. Below The canopy shading their couch, they sat down. And, he said, clasping firmly her hand in his own, When a proud man, Matilda, has found out at length That he is but a child in the midst of his strength, But a fool in his wisdom, to whom can he own The Aveakness which thus to himself hath been shown . From whom seek the strength which his need of is sore, Although in his pride he might perish, before He could plead for the one, or the other avow *Mid his intimate friendo . Wife of mine, tell me now, Do you join me in feeling, in that darkend hour, * The sole friend that can have the right or the power To be at his side, is the woman that shares * His fate, if he falter; the woman that bears The name dear for her sake, and hallows the life She has mingled her own w
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