CHAPITRE VI

The locks of raven hair ; While from his brow's dark shadow The light of those young eyes Gleamed like a lake whose waters Reflect the midnight skies.

Still gazed they on each other That Mother and her son , In his look that resolution Which spoke of childhood gone; But silence was between them The silence of a spell ; Alas, she dared not question, She knew her fate too well :

And he... how should he comfort That fond foreboding heart?

How soften that sharp sentence Yet warn her they must part?

Not long the silence lasted , But thought is lightening quick, And while he stood, yet pausing, Her blinding tears grew thick, And her youth went by before her Like a vision seen in sleep Each dark event renewing

Which taught her firsi to weep.

lier wild and startled Girl-hpod I

When, like a hunted fawn,

She fled for unfound refuge

O'er blood-stained path and lawn,

Nonc knowing in tlieir trouble

Where best to tu ni and flee,

From the storm of man's dark passions

To tbe huge tenipestuous sea

Or from those Océan terrors

To the trembling crouching death,

When the sharp sword gleaming hrightly

Suspends the suffercr's breath.

She sees herself, poor Maiden, Faint with a mortal £ear; The Slayer 1 s hand is on her The Slayers knife is near ; Saved at the awful moment When weak and deadly pale She felt the hope that lingered Of earthly 6uccour, fail :

And knelt with dcep dévotion God 1 s pardon to implore, Àlready half an angcl