LEON
Amazed at what he saw, yet more amazed
At what he heard, Leon stood dumb; but when
The life flow’d back into her thawing limbs,
And made her face once more a woman’s, he,
Catching his breath, besought more counsel. “Go,
Get to the sea!” she said, and, bending down,
Like one of very flesh and blood she search’d
The wide wounds of her knight, and said no more.
But Leon, lingering, of a sudden found
Nought, save the trampled bracken. Both were gone.
Marvelling much, he left the woods, and came
To a great Castle by the bare sea-shore.
But neither sight, nor sound, nor good salt smell
Had he to guide him, till he cross’d the dunes;
For the milk-handed mist had tamed the sea,
That, listless as lake water, on the strand
Laid down her weak, wan waves, each one a sob.
No hovering gull, no guillemot busy-wing’d,
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