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Far underground is many a cave,
Where they might lie as in the grave,
Until this storm hath ceased to rave;
Or let them cross the River Tweed,
And be at once from peril freed!”
—“Ah tempt me not!” she faintly sighed;
“I will not counsel nor exhort,—
With my condition satisfied;
But you, at least, may make report
Of what befalls;—be this your task—
This may be done ;–’tis all I ask!”
She spake—and from the Lady’s sight
The Sire, unconscious of his age,
Departed promptly as a Page
Bound on some errand of delight.
—The noble Francis—wise as brave,
Thought he, may have the skill to save :
