NEREIA
And she, a simple maid, what had she done
But given him love long since, his noble deeds
Caught with a rapture to her noble heart?
Yet never had she seen him face to face;
But, daily looking for his coming, grew
Daily more beautiful, and was most glad.
So when, the day before this dawn, a sloop,
Sharp-prow’d, and winged like a butterfly,
Came flitting past the palace, and brought news
Of royal vessels, sailing stately slow
Towards the great rock that keeps the bay at peace,
Nereia clapp’d her hands for joy, and ran
And stood upon the steps; and there stay’d long
Looking for him that was to come. But all
The colour faded from the molten west,
And fainter grew the faint sea-line; and still
No vessel. Then the stars leapt out to watch,
And the great moon made smooth a silver way
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