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NEREIA
From the high rock straight to Nereia’s feet:
But still no vessel.
Then Nereia spake:
“At dawn he will be here; the sleeping breeze
Will wake at dawn, and quickly bring him here;
And he shall find me watching when he comes!
Here on the terrace will I bide, until
Day breaks; yea, here a vigil will I keep,
I and my maidens with me.”
So they stay’d,
She and her maidens, there; but presently
Longing for rest grew all too much for them,
The dainty maidens, and they sank to sleep.
But she, that bore within her breast a heart
Throbbing with expectation and strange joy,
Desired not sleep, but kept wide-open eyes,
Lest suddenly the breeze should blow again,
And bring him to the shore, unseen, unhail’d.
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