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Of drizly night, who thro' the wearing mist
Sees the veil'd sun break forth in heaven's wide arch,
And shewing still a lengthen'd day before him.
As with a trav'ller in a gloomy path,
Whose close o'er-shaded end did scare his fancy
With forms of hidden ill, who, wending on
With fearful steps, before his eyes beholds
I th' sudden burst a fair and wide expanse
Of open country, rich in promis'd good.
As one o'erwhelmed in the battles' shock,
Who, all oppress'd and number'd with the slain,
Smother'd and lost, with sudden impulse strengthen'd,
Shakes the foul load of dead men from his back,
And finds himself again standing erect,
Unmaim'd and vigorous. As one who stood—
But it may tire thee, with such ample scope
To tell how it fares with me.

Eth. You truly are from a dark gloom restor'd
To cheerful day; and, if the passing shade
Has well impress'd your mind, there lies before you
A prospect fair indeed. Ay, fairer far
Than that the gloom obscured.

Ethw. How sayest thou?

Eth. Did not that seeming cloud of death obscure
To your keen forecast eye tumultuous scenes
Of war, and strife, and conquest yet to come,
Bought with your people's blood? but now, my Ethwald,