And he, the chosen one, whose lance Had yet been couched before her glance, Who were his arm a moment free Had died or gained her liberty; The minion of his father's bride, He, too, is fettered by her side; 170 Less for her own despair than him : Those lids o'er which the violet vein 175 Wandering, leaves a tender stain, Now seemed with hot and livid glow Which glance so heavily, and fill, As tear on tear grows gathering still. 180 XI. And he for her had also wept, But for the eyes that on him gazed: His sorrow, if he felt it, slept; Stern and erect his brow was raised. Whate'er the grief his soul avowed, He would not shrink before the crowd; 185 Remembrance of the hours that were 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! Else had his rising heart betrayed Remorse for all the wreck it made. 195 XII. And Azo spake :-" But yesterday "I gloried in a wife and son; "That dream this morning passed away; 200 "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 : 66 Those ties are broken-not by me; "Let that too pass ;-the doom's prepared! 66 Hugo, the priest awaits on thee, 205 "But here, upon the earth beneath, 66 "There is no spot where thou and I Together, for an hour, could breathe: "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." XIII. And here stern Azo hid his face For on his brow the swelling vein 215 220 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 Forbids not what his words require. "It is not that I dread the death"For thou hast seen me by thy side "All redly through the battle ride, 235 "Hath shed more blood in cause of thine, "Than e'er can stain the axe of mine: “Thou gay'st, and may'st resume my breath, * A gift for which I thank thee not; "Nor are my mother's wrongs forgot, II 2 240 |