Chain'd to excess, the slave of each extreme, How woke he from the wildness of that dream? Alas! he told not-but he did awake To curse the wither'd heart that would not break. 130 IX. Books, for his volume heretofore was Man, Through night's long hours would sound his hurried tread In rude but antique portraiture around: They heard, but whisper'd" that must not be known"The sound of words less earthly than his own. "Yes, they who chose might smile, but some had seen 140 "They scarce knew what, but more than should have been. "Why gaz'd he so upon the ghastly head “Which hands profane had gather'd from the dead, "That still beside his open'd volume lay, "As if to startle all save him away? 66 Why slept he not when others were at rest? Why heard no music, and received no guest? "All was not well they deemed-but where the wrong? "Some knew perchance-but 'twere a tale too long; "And such besides were too discreetly wise, "To more than hint their knowledge in surmise; "But if they would-they could”—around the board Thus Lara's vassals prattled of their lord. X. It was the night-and Lara's glassy stream The stars are studding, each with imaged beam : So calm, the waters scarcely seem to stray, The immortal lights that live along the sky: Its banks are fringed with many a goodly tree, And flowers the fairest that may feast the bee; Such in her chaplet infant Dian wove, And Innocence would offer to her love. These deck the shore; the waves their channel make In windings bright and mazy, like the snake. 150 160 All was so still, so soft in earth and air, You scarce would start to meet a spirit there; To walk in such a scene, on such a night! It was a moment only for the good: So Lara deemed, nor longer there he stood, Of skies more cloudless, moons of purer blaze, Of nights more soft and frequent, hearts that now- Unfelt-unsparing—but a night like this, A night of beauty, mock'd such breast as his. XI. He turned within his solitary hall, And his high shadow shot along the wall; That hid their dust, their foibles, and their faults; 170 180 And half a column of the pompous page, That speeds the specious tale from age to age; Like life, but not like mortal life, to view; 190 200 XII. 'Twas midnight—all was slumber; the lone light They heard and rose, and tremulously brave Rush where the sound invoked their aid to save; XIII. Cold as the marble where his length was laid, Though mix'd with terror, senseless as he lay, Some half form'd threat in utterance there had died, Some imprecation of despairing pride; His eye was almost seal'd, but not forsook, Even in its trance, the gladiator's look, 210 220 That oft awake his aspect could disclose, And now was fix'd in horrible repose. They raise him-bear him ;-hush! he breathes, he speaks, The swarthy blush recolours in his cheeks, |