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, '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, Nor listen more, CXCIV. "And now I was the road about descending From that wherein for pleasure I was bound. 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 Spurr'd o'er the sand, I dreaded I should come CXCVI. My hope was that the unhappy man would take For the high bank and steepy crags would make CXCVII. "Thus, without giving him alarm, I might So much he was misshap'd, that hapless wight. CXCVIII. "The chance was small. But Heaven came in aid. The man had kept straight onward, even as I I should alarm him if I came too nigh, I'd drawn my rein, as soon as I had made CXCIX. "The tide was coming in, and with its roar 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; Calling, adjuring, after him I go, Touch, have him; but upon the slippery rise 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. |