XI. And he for her had also wept, But for the eyes that on him gazed: Stern and erect his brow was raised. 185 190 His guilt his love-his present state His father's wrath—all good men's hate- And hers,-oh, hers!—he dared not throw One look upon that deathlike brow! 195 Else had his rising heart betrayed Remorse for all the wreck it made. XII. And Azo spake :-"But yesterday "Ere day declines, I shall have none. "My life must linger on alone; "Well, let that pass,-there breathes not one "Who would not do as I have done: "Those ties are broken-not by me; 205 "Let that too pass;-the doom's prepared! "Hugo, the priest awaits on thee, "And then-thy crime's reward! "Away! address thy prayers to Heaven, 210 "Before its evening stars are met— "Learn if thou there canst be forgiven; "It's mercy may absolve thee yet. "But here, upon the earth beneath, "There is no spot where thou and I "Together; for an hour, could breathe: 215 "Farewell! I will not see thee die"But thou, frail thing! shalt view his head"Away! I cannot speak the rest: "Go! woman of the wanton breast; "Not I, but thou his blood dost shed: "Go! if that sight thou canst outlive, "And joy thee in the life I give." 220 XIII. And here stern Azo hid his face- Throbbed as if back upon his brain 225 The hot blood ebbed and flowed again; And therefore bowed he for a space, And passed his shaking hand along His eye, to veil it from the throng; While Hugo raised his chained hands, 230 And for a brief delay demands His father's ear: the silent sire "It is not that I dread the death "For thou hast seen me by thy side "All redly through the battle ride, 235 "And that not once a useless brand Thy slaves have wrested from my hand, "Hath shed more blood in cause of thine, "Than e'er can stain the axe of mine: 240 "Thou gav'st, and may'st resume my breath, "A gift for which I thank thee not; "Nor are my mother's wrongs forgot, "Her slighted love and ruined name, "Her offspring's heritage of shame; "But she is in the grave, where he, "Her son, thy rival, soon shall be. "How trusty and how tender were "Thy youthful love-paternal care. « 'Tis true, that I have done thee wrong— "But wrong for wrong-this deemed thy bride, "The other victim of thy pride, "Thou know'st for me was destined long. "Thou saw'st, and coveted'st her charms "And with thy very crime-my birth, "Thou taunted'st me-as little worth; "A match ignoble for her arms, 245 250 255 "Because, forsooth, I could not claim "The lawful heirship of thy name, 260 "My name should more than Este's shine "With honours all my own. "I had a sword-and have a breast "That should have won as haught2 a crest 265 "As ever waved along the line "Of all these sovereign sires of thine. Not always knightly spurs are worn "The brightest by the better born; "And mine have lanced my courser's flank "Before proud chiefs of princely rank, 270 "When charging to the cheering cry "Of Este and of Victory!"" 275 "I will not plead the cause of crime, "Nor sue thee to redeem from time A few brief hours or days that must "At length roll o'er my reckless dust;— "Such maddening moments as my past, 66 They could not, and they did not, last— "Albeit, my birth and name be base, "And thy nobility of race "Disdained to deck a thing like me— "Yet in my lineaments they trace "Some features of my father's face, "And in my spirit-all of thee. "From thee-this tamelessness of heart "From thee-nay, wherefore dost thou start? 280 285 |