THE LONGEST DEATH-WATCH.
15
They reached the appointed cloister. While
The heart of Philip withering lay,
She, without moan, or tear, or smile,
Watched from her window, legends say—
Watched seven-and-forty years away!
The heart of Philip withering lay,
She, without moan, or tear, or smile,
Watched from her window, legends say—
Watched seven-and-forty years away!
Winds blew the blossoms to and fro,
Into the world and out again:
"He will come back to me, I know"—
Poor whisper of a wandering brain
To peerless patience, peerless pain!
Into the world and out again:
"He will come back to me, I know"—
Poor whisper of a wandering brain
To peerless patience, peerless pain!
. . . Ah, longest, loneliest, saddest tryst
Was ever kept on earth! And yet
Had he arisen would he have kissed
The grey wan woman he had met,
Or—taught her how the dead forget?
Was ever kept on earth! And yet
Had he arisen would he have kissed
The grey wan woman he had met,
Or—taught her how the dead forget?
Could she have won, discrowned and old,
The love she could not win, in sooth,
When queenly purple, fold on fold,
And all the subtle grace of youth,
Helped her to hide a hapless truth?
The love she could not win, in sooth,
When queenly purple, fold on fold,
And all the subtle grace of youth,
Helped her to hide a hapless truth?
