138
Poems
And heeds not who may hear what she will say.
*****
"The 'song-bird' shakes earth-gifts from spreading wing,
But, from my heart—that does not always sing—
A prayer goes up to Heaven's gate for thee;—
Dear God from Sorrow's fetters leave her free."
She turns away, without a look or smile,
To that hushed crowd, that waited all the while;
A flash of gems beyond a closing door,—
And they shall never—never see her more.
*****
"Nina, attend! Fly to the outer gate,
Where Guido, with his fellows, for me wait,—
Bid him come here, and haste!" The maiden flew
To do the bidding, wisely as she knew.
Idly the lady stood, till Guido came;
Then, blushed, and paled, but gave him Raphael's name.
Bade him go forth, and learn, as best he may,
The place where he abides; also the way
He turns to reach it, when, his good-nights o'er,
He leaves the palace-gate for his own door.
*****
"The 'song-bird' shakes earth-gifts from spreading wing,
But, from my heart—that does not always sing—
A prayer goes up to Heaven's gate for thee;—
Dear God from Sorrow's fetters leave her free."
She turns away, without a look or smile,
To that hushed crowd, that waited all the while;
A flash of gems beyond a closing door,—
And they shall never—never see her more.
*****
"Nina, attend! Fly to the outer gate,
Where Guido, with his fellows, for me wait,—
Bid him come here, and haste!" The maiden flew
To do the bidding, wisely as she knew.
Idly the lady stood, till Guido came;
Then, blushed, and paled, but gave him Raphael's name.
Bade him go forth, and learn, as best he may,
The place where he abides; also the way
He turns to reach it, when, his good-nights o'er,
He leaves the palace-gate for his own door.
"Not many paces from the Cardinal's,
An archway, o'er a gate where no one dwells,—
I marked, as I this morning passed that way;
Within that archway I can safely stay
An archway, o'er a gate where no one dwells,—
I marked, as I this morning passed that way;
Within that archway I can safely stay
