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eat injury Wrought on her； and； through her； wrought on you； Heaven knows How unwittingly！
THE DUKE。
Ah！ 。 。 。 and； young soldier； suppose That I came here to seek； not grant； pardon？
THE BOY。
Of whom？
THE DUKE。
Of yourself。
THE BOY。
Duke； I bear in my heart to the tomb No boyish resentment； not one lonely thought That honors you not。 In all this there is naught 'Tis for me to forgive。 Every glorious act Of your great life starts forward； an eloquent fact； To confirm in my boy's heart its faith in your own。 And have I not hoarded； to ponder upon； A hundred great acts from your life？ Nay； all these； Were they so many lying and false witnesses； Does there rest not ONE voice which was never untrue？ I believe in Constance； Duke； as she does in you！ In this great world around us； wherever we turn； Some grief irremediable we discern； And yetthere sits God； calm in Heaven above！ Do we trust one whit less in his justice or love？ I judge not。
THE DUKE。
Enough！ Hear at last； then； the truth Your father and Ifoes we were in our youth。 It matters not why。 Yet thus much understand： The hope of my youth was sign'd out by his hand。 I was not of those whom the buffets of fate Tame and teach； and my heart buried slain love in hate。 If your own frank young heart； yet unconscious of all Which turns the heart's blood in its springtide to gall； And unable to guess even aught that the furrow Across these gray brows hides of sin or of sorrow； Comprehends not the evil and grief of my life； 'Twill at least comprehend how intense was the strife Which is closed in this act of atonement； whereby I seek in the son of my youth's enemy The friend of my age。 Let the present release Here acquitted the past！ In the name of my niece； Whom for my life in yours as a hostage I give； Are you great enough； boy； to forgive me；and live？
Whilst he spoke thus； a doubtful tumultuous joy Chased its fleeting effects o'er the face of the boy： As when some stormy moon； in a long cloud confined； Struggles outward through shadows； the varying wind Alternates； and bursts； self…surprised； from her prison； So that slow joy grew clear in his face。 He had risen To answer the Duke； but strength fail'd every limb； A strange； happy feebleness trembled through him。 With a faint cry of rapturous wonder； he sank On the breast of the nun； who stood near。 〃Yes； boy！ thank This guardian angel；〃 the Duke said。 〃Iyou； We owe all to her。 Crown her work。 Live！ be true To your young life's fair promise； and live for her sake！〃 〃Yes； Duke： I will live。 I MUST livelive to make My whole life the answer you claim；〃 the boy said； 〃For joy does not kill！〃 Back again the faint head Declined on the nun's gentle bosom。 She saw His lips quiver； and motion'd the Duke to withdraw And leave them a moment together。 He eyed Them both with a wistful regard； turn'd and sigh'd； And lifted the tent…door； and pass'd from the tent。
XXXV。
Like a furnace； the fervid； intense occident From its hot seething levels a great glare struck up On the sick metal sky。 And； as out of a cup Some witch watches boiling wild portents arise； Monstrous clouds； mass'd； misshapen； and ting'd with strange dyes； Hover'd over the red fume； and changed to weird shapes As of snakes； salamanders； efts； lizards； storks； apes； Chimeras； and hydras： whilstever the same In the midst of all these （creatures fused by his flame； And changed by his influence！） changeless； as when； Ere he lit down to death generations of men； O'er that crude and ungainly creation； which there With wild shapes this cloud…world seem'd to mimic in air； The eye of Heaven's all…judging witness； he shone。 And shall shine on the ages we reach notthe sun！
XXXVI。
Nature posted her parable thus in the skies； And the man's heart bore witness。 Life's vapors arise And fall； pass and change； group themselves and revolve Round the great central life； which is love： these dissolve And resume themselves； here assume beauty； there terror； And the phantasmagoria of infinite error； And endless complexity； lasts but a while； Life's self； the immortal； immutable smile Of God； on the soul in the deep heart of Heaven Lives changeless； unchanged： and our morning and even Are earth's alternations； not Heaven's。
XXXVII。
While he yet Watched the skies； with this thought in his heart； while he set Thus unconsciously all his life forth in his mind； Summ'd it up； search'd it out； proved it vapor and wind； And embraced the new life which that hour had reveal'd； Love's life； which earth's life had defaced and conceal'd； Lucile left the tent and stood by him。 Her tread Aroused him； and； turning towards her； he said： 〃O Soeur Seraphine； are you happy？〃 〃Eugene； What is happier than to have hoped not in vain？〃 She answer'd；〃And you？〃 〃Yes。〃 〃You do not repent？〃 〃No。〃 〃Thank Heaven！〃 she murmur'd。 He musingly bent His looks on the sunset； and somewhat apart Where he stood； sigh'd； as though to his innermost heart； 〃O bless'd are they； amongst whom I was not； Whose morning unclouded； without stain or spot； Predicts a pure evening； who； sunlike； in light Have traversed； unsullied； the world； and set bright！〃 But she in response； 〃Mark yon ship far away； Asleep on the wave； in the last light of day； With all its hush'd thunders shut up！ Would you know A thought which came to me a few days ago； Whilst watching those ships？ 。 。 。 When the great Ship of Life Surviving； though shatter'd； the tumult and strife Of earth's angry element；masts broken short； Decks drench'd； bulwarks beatendrives safe into port； When the Pilot of Galilee； seen on the strand； Stretches over the waters a welcoming hand； When； heeding no longer the sea's baffled roar； The mariner turns to his rest evermore； What will then be the answer the helmsman must give？ Will it be 。 。 。 'Lo our log…book！ Thus once did we live In the zones of the South； thus we traversed the seas Of the Orient； there dwelt with the Hesperides； Thence follow'd the west wind； here； eastward we turn'd； The stars fail'd us there； just here land we discern'd On our lee； there the storm overtook us at last； That day went the bowsprit； the next day the mast； There the mermen came round us； and there we saw bask A siren？' The Captain of Port will he ask Any one of such questions？ I cannot think so！ But 。 。 。 'What is the last Bill of Health you can show？' NotHow fared the soul through the trials she pass'd？ ButWhat is the state of that soul at the last？〃
〃May it be so！〃 he sigh'd。 〃There the sun drops； behold！〃 And indeed； whilst he spoke all the purple and gold In the west had turn'd ashen； save one fading strip Of light that yet gleam'd from the dark nether lip Of a long reef of cloud； and o'er sullen ravines And ridges the raw damps were hanging white screens Of melancholy mist。