66 THE KAISER'S FEAST Well didst thou love him then, and he Still at thy side was seen : How is it that such things can be As though they ne'er had been? Now must the tears of grief and shame "And let them, let them there be poured! Thine own wrung heart, to love restored, Oh! Death is mighty to make peace; So many an inward strife shall cease- His eye was dimmed-the strong man shook Up in his arms the boys he took, And strained them to his breast. And a shout from all in the royal hall Burst forth to hail the sight; And eyes were wet midst the brave that met 121 TASSO AND HIS SISTER ["DEVANT vous est Sorrente, là demeurait la sœur de Tasse, quand il vint en pélerin demander à cette obscure amie un asyle contre l'injustice des princes. Ses longues douleurs avaient presque egaré sa raison ! il ne lui restait plus que son génie."-CORINNE.] SHE sat, where on each wind that sighed While the red gold of eventide Her bower was one where daylight's close As thence the voice of childhood rose But still and thoughtful at her knee With bright fixed wondering eyes, that gazed With brows through parted ringlets raised, They stood in silent grace. While she-yet something o'er her look Forth from a poet's magic book The proud undying lay, which poured TASSO AND HIS SISTER His of the gifted pen and sword, * She read of fair Erminia's flight, Of him she read, who broke the charm 123 Young cheeks around that bright page glowed, Young holy hearts were stirred: And the meek tears of woman flowed Fast o'er each burning word. And sounds of breeze, and fount, and leaf, The mother turned. A way-worn man, In pilgrim garb, stood nigh, Of stately mien, yet wild and wan, Of proud yet mournful eye. But drops which would not stay for pride From that dark eye gushed free, As, pressing his pale brow, he cried, 66 'Forgotten even by thee! *It is scarcely necessary to recall the well-known Italian saying, that Tasso, with his sword and pen, was superior to all men. "Am I so changed ?-and yet we two From wreaths which thou hast made; We have knelt down and said one prayer, And sung one vesper strain; My soul is dim with clouds of care- "Life hath been heavy on my headI come a stricken deer, Bearing the heart, midst crowds that bled, To bleed in stillness here." She gazed, till thoughts that long had slept She fell upon his neck and wept, Her brother's name !-and who was he, A stranger to his own? He was the bard of gifts divine To sway the souls of men: THE RELEASE OF TASSO 125 THE RELEASE OF TASSO. THERE came a bard to Rome; he brought a lyre Or greet a conqueror with its war-notes high; He brought a spirit whose ethereal birth On the blue waters, as in joy they sweep, His numbers had been sung; and in the halls, While the high soul they burst from pined in chains. And in the summer gardens, where the spray |