MARENGHI
563
XVII
And at the utmost point[1] . . . stood there
The relics of a reed[2]-inwoven cot, 95
Thatched with broad flags. An outlawed murderer
Had lived seven days there: the pursuit was hot
When he was cold. The birds that were his grave
Fell dead after[3] their feast in Vado's wave.
And at the utmost point[1] . . . stood there
The relics of a reed[2]-inwoven cot, 95
Thatched with broad flags. An outlawed murderer
Had lived seven days there: the pursuit was hot
When he was cold. The birds that were his grave
Fell dead after[3] their feast in Vado's wave.
XVIII
There must have burned within Marenghi's breast[4] 100
That fire, more warm and[5] bright than life and hope,
(Which to the martyr makes his dungeon . . . .
More joyous than free[6] heaven's majestic cope
To his oppressor), warring with decay,—
Or he could ne'er have lived years, day by day. 105
There must have burned within Marenghi's breast[4] 100
That fire, more warm and[5] bright than life and hope,
(Which to the martyr makes his dungeon . . . .
More joyous than free[6] heaven's majestic cope
To his oppressor), warring with decay,—
Or he could ne'er have lived years, day by day. 105
XIX
Nor was his state so lone as you might think.
He had tamed every newt and snake and toad,
And every seagull which sailed down to drink
Those freshes[7] ere the death-mist went abroad.
And each one, with peculiar talk and play, 110
Wiled, not untaught, his silent time away.
Nor was his state so lone as you might think.
He had tamed every newt and snake and toad,
And every seagull which sailed down to drink
Those freshes[7] ere the death-mist went abroad.
And each one, with peculiar talk and play, 110
Wiled, not untaught, his silent time away.
XX
And the marsh-meteors, like tame beasts, at night
Came licking with blue tongues his veinèd feet;
And he would watch them, as, like spirits bright,
In many entangled figures quaint and sweet 115
To some enchanted music they would dance—
Until they vanished at the first moon-glance.
And the marsh-meteors, like tame beasts, at night
Came licking with blue tongues his veinèd feet;
And he would watch them, as, like spirits bright,
In many entangled figures quaint and sweet 115
To some enchanted music they would dance—
Until they vanished at the first moon-glance.
XXI
He mocked the stars by[8] grouping on each weed
The summer dew-globes[9] in the golden dawn;
And, ere the hoar-frost languished,[10] he could read 120
Its pictured path, as on bare[11] spots of lawn
Its delicate brief touch in silver[12] weaves
The likeness of the wood's remembered leaves.
He mocked the stars by[8] grouping on each weed
The summer dew-globes[9] in the golden dawn;
And, ere the hoar-frost languished,[10] he could read 120
Its pictured path, as on bare[11] spots of lawn
Its delicate brief touch in silver[12] weaves
The likeness of the wood's remembered leaves.
XXII
And many a fresh Spring morn would he awaken—
While yet the unrisen sun made glow, like iron 125
Quivering in crimson fire, the peaks unshaken
Of mountains and blue isles which did environ
With air-clad crags that plain of land and sea,—
And feelliberty.
And many a fresh Spring morn would he awaken—
While yet the unrisen sun made glow, like iron 125
Quivering in crimson fire, the peaks unshaken
Of mountains and blue isles which did environ
With air-clad crags that plain of land and sea,—
And feelliberty.
- ↑ 94 at the utmost point 1870; cancelled for when (where?) B.
- ↑ 95 reed B.; weed 1870.
- ↑ 99 after B.; upon 1870.
- ↑ 100 burned within Marenghi's breast B.; lived within Marenghi's heart 1870.
- ↑ 101 and B.; or 1870.
- ↑ 103 free B.; the 1870.
- ↑ 109 freshes B.; omitted, 1870.
- ↑ 118 by 1870; with B.
- ↑ 119 dew-globes B.; dewdrops 1870.
- ↑ 120 languished B.; vanished 1870.
- ↑ 121 path, as on [bare] B.; footprints, as on 1870.
- ↑ 122 silver B.; silence 1870.
