VII.

Yet in his absence PALESTRINA strove

By art to bid those weary moments move,
And even charms were round her shed
By tales she sought when joy had fled;
For aching minds, when madly torn
By grief, uncertainty, or scorn,
A sweet companionship will borrow
From pictures of another's sorrow.
Her cheek in wonder oft would pale,
As breathless she would list the tale;
And as the speaker's accents warm'd,
Confess'd, in truth, his words were charm'd;
Her heart in sympathy would leap
At sorrow's trials, where we reap
The fruits from out a thorny-field,
Where all the harvest we do store,
And all our painful labours yield,
Is more endurance than before.

Then she would laugh at one beloved,
If the lost fair a truant proved;

And thus from hour to hour beguiled

The time by turns she wept and smiled,

And then would marvel oft to know

Why tales which do but faintly show

Our hourly troubles, joys, and fears,

Should move her laughter and her tears!

VIII.

Thus congregated to that hall

Minstrels, and friars, and shepherds — all

Resolved to charm their mistress' ear

A vassalage for the good cheer,

That feudal roof was wont to shower

On those who sought COLONNA's tower.

This morn was sadder than the rest,

It brought a sinking to her breast,

Well conscious that her father's life

Was hemm'd with dangers in that strife;

And well that scene were placed afar,
Where shut from her it could not jar
On one whose eyes were never bent
On conflict- save a tournament.
A thousand fancies on her gain,

Perchance he sleeps upon the plain.

He sleeps she can his face behold

The lips she would have kiss'd, though cold. To stay these terrors all her power

Is vain She will not rest an hour,

But hasten from himself to hear

If this be truth or idle fear.

IX.

She calls her maids-alas! they bear
No happier thoughts than she doth share.
Their silence makes her heart to pour

A sadder current than before.

She begs their counsel; they in turn

Essay their best-still she doth mourn.

Wearied at length, in voice of mirth,

A merry thought came bounding forth — Though grief, perchance, had given it birth. "Our fathers," PALESTRINA said, "When Romans were by augurs led

"To take an omen from the flight

"Of birds-they deem'd that duty right "Before their sacred temples rose,

"Or ere they sought in war their foes.

66

Why may not we, like them, now take

"An omen for my father's sake,

"Not found in flights of birds - but sought

"In tales which, too, have wonders wrought, " With fancy reason counsel stored,

"To win our hearts by every word? "And he who by romance or tale

"Will waft me out of sorrow's pale,

Descry a loophole whence to fly,

"Those fancies, which are ever nigh,

"With him I am resolved to seek

"The desert plain — the mountain bleak,

"No other guidance than his arm,

"No other tongue than his to charm; "Nor shall that pilgrimage expire

"Till fortune place me by my sire." Her maids around with look and voice Assented to their mistress' choice,

And eager, sought with her to pierce

The future by so strange a course;

While if they fail'd-an hour of pleasure

Would wait them as they sought the treasure.

X.

A shepherd from FRASCATI came

That morn

ANTONIO was his name.

Some distance had he stray'd from home

Nor thought that he should idly roam,
If to his mistress' ear he told

A tale that breathed of pen and fold;
Nor had his tongue the merry tone

That mountaineers are wont to own.

C