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ntom； the soul of whose sense is possess'd By an Age not thine own！' 〃But unconscious is he； And he heeds not the warning； he cares not to see Aught but ONE form before him！ 〃Rash； wild words are o'er； And the vision is vanish'd from sight evermore！ And the gray morning sees； as it drearily moves O'er a land long deserted； a madman that roves Through a ruin； and seeks to recapture a dream。 Lost to life and its uses； withdrawn from the scheme Of man's waking existence； he wanders apart。〃 And this is an old fairy…tale of the heart。 It is told in all lands； in a different tongue； Told with tears by the old； heard with smiles by the young。 And the tale to each heart unto which it is known Has a different sense。 It has puzzled my own。
II。
Eugene de Luvois was a man who； in part From strong physical health； and that vigor of heart Which physical health gives； and partly； perchance； From a generous vanity native to France； With the heart of a hunter； whatever the quarry； Pursued it； too hotly impatient to tarry Or turn； till he took it。 His trophies were trifles： But trifler he was not。 When rose…leaves it rifles； No less than when oak…trees it ruins； the wind Its pleasure pursues with impetuous mind。 Both Eugene de Luvois and Lord Alfred had been Men of pleasure： but men's pleasant vices； which； seen Floating faint in the sunshine of Alfred's soft mood； Seem'd amiable foibles； by Luvois pursued With impetuous passion； seemed semi…Satanic。 Half pleased you see brooks play with pebbles； in panic You watch them whirl'd down by the torrent。 In truth； To the sacred political creed of his youth The century which he was born to denied All realization。 Its generous pride To degenerate protest on all things was sunk； Its principles each to a prejudice shrunk。 Down the path of a life that led nowhere he trod； Where his whims were his guides； and his will was his god； And his pastime his purpose。 From boyhood possess'd Of inherited wealth； he had learned to invest Both his wealth and those passions wealth frees from the cage Which penury locks； in each vice of an age All the virtues of which； by the creed he revered； Were to him illegitimate。 Thus； he appear'd To the world what the world chose to have him appear； The frivolous tyrant of Fashion； a mere Reformer in coats； cards； and carriages！ Still 'Twas the vigor of nature； and tension of will； That found for the first timeperhaps for the last In Lucile what they lacked yet to free from the Past； Force； and faith； in the Future。 And so； in his mind； To the anguish of losing the woman was join'd The terror of missing his life's destination； Which in her had its mystical representation。
III。
And truly； the thought of it； scaring him； pass'd O'er his heart； while he now through the twilight rode fast As a shade from the wing of some great bird obscene In a wide silent land may be suddenly seen； Darkening over the sands； where it startles and scares Some traveller stray'd in the waste unawares； So that thought more than once darken'd over his heart For a moment； and rapidly seem'd to depart。 Fast and furious he rode through the thickets which rose Up the shaggy hillside： and the quarrelling crows Clang'd above him； and clustering down the dim air Dropp'd into the dark woods。 By fits here and there Shepherd fires faintly gleam'd from the valleys。 Oh； how He envied the wings of each wild bird； as now He urged the steed over the dizzy ascent Of the mountain！ Behind him a murmur was sent From the torrentbefore him a sound from the tracts Of the woodlands that waved o'er the wild cataracts； And the loose earth and loose stones roll'd momently down From the hoofs of his steed to abysses unknown。 The red day had fallen beneath the black woods； And the Powers of the night through the vast solitudes Walk'd abroad and conversed with each other。 The trees Were in sound and in motion； and mutter'd like seas In Elfland。 The road through the forest was hollow'd。 On he sped through the darkness； as though he were follow'd Fast； fast by the Erl King！ The wild wizard…work Of the forest at last open'd sharp； o'er the fork Of a savage ravine； and behind the black stems Of the last trees； whose leaves in the light gleam'd like gems； Broke the broad moon above the voluminous Rock…chaos；the Hecate of that Tartarus！ With his horse reeking white； he at last reach'd the door Of a small mountain inn； on the brow of a hoar Craggy promontory； o'er a fissure as grim； Through which； ever roaring； there leap'd o'er the limb Of the rent rock a torrent of water； from sight； Into pools that were feeding the roots of the night。 A balcony hung o'er the water。 Above In a glimmering casement a shade seem'd to move。 At the door the old negress was nodding her head As he reach'd it。 〃My mistress awaits you；〃 she said。 And up the rude stairway of creeking pine rafter He follow'd her silent。 A few moments after； His heart almost stunned him； his head seem'd to reel； For a door closedLuvois was alone with Lucile。
IV。
In a gray travelling dress； her dark hair unconfined Streaming o'er it； and tossed now and then by the wind From the lattice； that waved the dull flame in a spire From a brass lamp before hera faint hectic fire On her cheek； to her eyes lent the lustre of fever： They seem'd to have wept themselves wider than ever； Those dark eyesso dark and so deep！ 〃You relent？ And your plans have been changed by the letter I sent？〃 There his voice sank； borne down by a strong inward strife。
LUCILE。
Your letter！ yes； Duke。 For it threaten'd man's life Woman's honor。
Luvois。
The last； madam； NOT？
LUCILE。
Both。 I glance At your own words； blush； son of the knighthood of France； As I read them！ You say； in this letter 。 。 。 〃I know Why now you refuse me： 'tis （is it not so？） For the man who has trifled before； wantonly； And now trifles again with the heart you deny To myself。 But he shall not！ By man's last wild law； I will seize on the right （the right； Duc de Luvois！） To avenge for you； woman； the past； and to give To the future its freedom。 That man shalt not live To make you as wretched as you have made me！〃
LUVOIS。
Well； madam； in those words what words do you see That threatens the honor of woman？
LUCILE。
See！ 。 。 。 what； What word； do you ask？ Every word！ would you not； Had I taken your hand thus； have felt that your name Was soil'd and dishonor'd by more than mere shame If the woman that bore it had first been the cause Of the crime which in these words is menaced？ You pause！ Woman's honor； you ask？ Is there； sir； no dishonor In the smile of a woman； when men； gazing on her； Can shudder； and say； 〃In that smile is a grave〃？ No！ you can have no cause； Duke； for no right you have In the contest you menace。 That contest but draws Every right into ruin。 By all human laws Of man'