And trebling all the rest in value-Ah

heavens !

Why need I tell you all?—suffice to say That whatsoever such a house as his, And his was old, has in it rare or fair Was brought before the guest : and they, the guests,

Wonder'd at some strange light in Julian's eyes

(I told you that he had his golden hour), And such a feast, ill-suited as it seem'd To such a time, to Lionel's loss and his, And that resolved self-exile from a land He never would revisit, such a feast So rich, so strange, and stranger ev'n than rich,

But rich as for the nuptials of a king.

And stranger yet, at one end of the hall Two great funereal curtains, looping down,

Parted a little ere they met the floor,
About a picture of his lady, taken
Some years before, and falling hid the
frame.

And just above the parting was a lamp : So the sweet figure folded round with night

Seem'd stepping out of darkness with a smile.

Well then-our solemn feast-we ate and drank,

And might-the wines being of such nobleness

Have jested also, but for Julian's eyes, And something weird and wild about it

all:

What was it? for our lover seldom spoke, Scarce touch'd the meats; but ever and

anon

A priceless goblet with a priceless wine Arising, show'd he drank beyond his use;

And when the feast was near an end, he said:

There is a custom in the Orient,

friends

I read of it in Persia-when a man Will honour those who feast with him, he brings

And shows them whatsoever he accounts Of all his treasures the most beautiful, Gold, jewels, arms, whatever it may be. This custom '

Pausing here a moment, all The guests broke in upon him with meeting hands

And cries about the banquet-Beautiful! Who could desire more beauty at a feast?'

The lover answer'd, 'There is more

than one

Here sitting who desires it. Laud me

not

Before my time, but hear me to the close. This custom steps yet further when the

guest

Is loved and honour'd to the uttermost. For after he hath shown him gems or gold, He brings and sets before him in rich guise

That which is thrice as beautiful as these, The beauty that is dearest to his heart"O my heart's lord, would I could show you," he says,

"Ev'n my heart too." And I propose

to-night

To show you what is dearest to my heart, And my heart too.

'But solve me first a doubt.

I knew a man, nor many years ago;
He had a faithful servant, one who loved
His master more than all on earth beside.

He falling sick, and seeming close on death,

His master would not wait until he died, But bade his menials bear him from the door,

And leave him in the public way to die. I knew another, not so long ago,

Who found the dying servant, took him home,

And fed, and cherish'd him, and saved his life.

I ask you now, should this first master claim

His service, whom does it belong to? him Who thrust him out, or him who saved his life?'

This question, so flung down before

the guests,

And balanced either way by each, at length

When some were doubtful how the law

would hold,

Was handed over by consent of all To one who had not spoken, Lionel.

Fair speech was his, and delicate of phrase.

And he beginning languidly-his loss Weigh'd on him yet-but warming as he

went,

Glanced at the point of law, to pass it by,
Affirming that as long as either lived,
By all the laws of love and gratefulness,
The service of the one so saved was due
All to the saver-adding, with a smile,
The first for many weeks-a semi-smile
As at a strong conclusion-body and soul
And life and limbs, all his to work his
will.'

Then Julian made a secret sign to me To bring Camilla down before them all.

And crossing her own picture as she came,
And looking as much lovelier as herself
Is lovelier than all others-on her head
A diamond circlet, and from under this
A veil, that seem'd no more than gilded air,
Flying by each fine ear, an Eastern gauze
With seeds of gold-so, with that grace
of hers,

Slow-moving as a wave against the wind,
That flings a mist behind it in the sun-
And bearing high in arms the mighty
babe,

The younger Julian, who himself was crown'd

With roses, none so rosy as himself— And over all her babe and her the jewels Of many generations of his house Sparkled and flash'd, for he had decked them out

As for a solemn sacrifice of love

So she came in :-I am long in telling it,

I never yet beheld a thing so strange, Sad, sweet, and strange together-floated in

While all the guests in, mute amazement

rose

And slowly pacing to the middle hall, Before the board, there paused and stood,

her breast

Hard-heaving, and her eyes upon her feet,
Not daring yet to glance at Lionel.
But him she carried, him nor lights nor
feast

Dazed or amazed, nor eyes of men; who

cared

Only to use his own, and staring wide And hungering for the gilt and jewell'd

world

About him, look'd, as he is like to prove, When Julian goes, the lord of all he saw.

'My guests,' said Julian: 'you are honour'd now