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LEON
“Must it be?”
The words brake from him: “Death? Oh, horrible,
Impossible!” A doubtful hope flash’d up:
“Perchance not Death she meant! Perchance I err’d!
I will not die!”
At once the fish-girl’s face
Quicken’d; at once he felt the doubt decrease!
“Pray you,” he cried, “all japeries apart,
Saw you at any time from out this sea
A fair Queen rising, wondrous fair! and bright
Like foam upon the waters are her feet—
Know you of such?” But Riance shook her head,
And spake not, Loath to lose the sudden hope,
“Your folk,” he urged, “may give her some sea-name,
‘Queen of the Sea,’ or ‘Lady of the Sea;’
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