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CXCII.

"He seem'd to feel my manner; for again He turn'd on me his red and haggard eyes. 'Can it be possible another's pain,'

He said, in tones of doubt and of surprise,

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'Should move compassion? No, no, no! 't is vain, And worse than vain in me, who should be wise

In human sympathy, to look to find

Kindness in men because their words are kind.'

СХСІІІ.

"'T was useless to persist; he would not stay,

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Nor listen more,
- yet after I had got
Remounted, and was fairly on my way,
Sought quietly again the self-same spot
Whence haply I had driven him away,
And, when I turn'd (forget him I could not)
From time to time, was seated, seeming calm,
With head deject, and cheek upon his palm.

CXCIV.

"And now I was the road about descending
Towards the third beach, when, on looking round
For the last time, behold the stranger wending,
With rapid footsteps, o'er the travell'd ground!
But in a contrary direction tending

From that wherein for pleasure I was bound.
His head was bare; nor hand, nor shoulder bore

The slender staff and burden, as before.

CXCV.

"My mind misgave me. Why, I need not mention ; The man's strange passion, and the neighbouring sea Will lead you to suspect his fell intention,

As they at once suggested it to me.

But while, with throbbing heart, for its prevention
I drew my bridle short, and rapidly

Spurr'd o'er the sand, I dreaded I should come
In time to witness, not prevent his doom.

CXCVI.

My hope was that the unhappy man would take
Not to the surf, but, in his desperation,

For the high bank and steepy crags would make
That form the smooth shore's southern termination.
Deep there the flood, and there the billows break
Against the rocks, in constant agitation,
Sending at times, when seas be rough, their spray
With roar and fury up the cliff's mid-way.

CXCVII.

"Thus, without giving him alarm, I might
Keep nigh enough to intercept him, ere
He should be able to ascend the height;
For all unapt to climb he did appear,

So much he was misshap'd, that hapless wight.
But still there was no little cause to fear,
That, should he turn and see me, my intent
Might only hasten what I would prevent.

CXCVIII.

"The chance was small. But Heaven came in aid.

The man had kept straight onward, even as I
Had hop'd and look'd for; and now, much afraid

I should alarm him if I came too nigh,

I'd drawn my rein, as soon as I had made
The space betwixt us less by half, and high
Upon the sands was riding, where the ground
Being loose, my horse's hoofs gave little sound.

CXCIX.

"The tide was coming in, and with its roar
Favor'd my object; and the mist, already
Spread like a cloud of smoke the horizon o'er,
Was driving onward with a motion steady
And rapid, and had soon attain'd the shore.
And now, thus shrouded, at a rate more speedy
Over the sand I flew, my horse's head

Scarce seeing for the mist, scarce heard his tread.

66

CC.

The fog is gone. Ten paces from me, lo,

The man I seek! He hears; he sees; he flies;
Up, up
the cliff with certain step; nor slow;
No, no! so swift, I scarce believe my eyes.

Calling, adjuring, after him I go,

Touch, have him; but upon the slippery rise
Stumbles my horse. I could no more hold on.

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CCI.

Here, in the very middle of his tale,

Just as his speech was growing animated,

And BLANCHE was listening with a cheek quite pale, Her warm heart beating, and her eyes dilated,

CARRYL was cut short by a sound of wail,

From one in strange misventure implicated.

What sound this was, what scene, and who the man too,

Shall be recounted in another Canto.

END OF THE FIRST AND

SECOND CANTOS OF ARTHUR CARRYL.

-, -TH, 18-.

La mia sorella, che tra bella e buona

Non so qual fosse più.

DANTE. Purg. XXIV. 5.

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