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〃Would Alice blame her？〃 Leonard's Low； tender answer came； …
〃Alice was far too noble To think or dream of blame。〃 〃And was he sure
he loved her？〃 〃Yes； with the one love given Once in a lifetime only； With
one soul and one heaven！〃
XII。
Then came a plaintive murmur； … 〃Dora had once been told That he
and Alice〃〃Dearest； Alice is far too cold To love； and I； my Dora； If once
I fancied so； It was a brief delusion； And over；long ago。〃
XIII。
Between the Past and Present； On that bleak moment's height； She
stood。 As some lost traveller By a quick flash of light Seeing a gulf
before him； With dizzy； sick despair； Reels backward； but to find it A
deeper chasm there。
XIV。
The twilight grew still darker； The fragrant flowers more sweet； The
stars shone out in heaven； The lamps gleamed down the street； And hours
passed in dreaming Over their new…found fate； Ere they could think of
wondering Why Alice was so late。
XV。
She came； and calmly listened； In vain they strove to trace If Herbert's
memory shadowed In grief upon her face。 No blame； no wonder showed
there； No feeling could be told； Her voice was not less steady； Her manner
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
not more cold。
XVI。
They could not hear the anguish That broke in words of pain Through
the calm summer midnight； … 〃My Herbertmine again！〃 Yes； they have
once been parted； But this day shall restore The long lost one： she claims
him： 〃My Herbertmine once more！〃
XVII。
Now Christmas Eve returning； Saw Alice stand beside The altar；
greeting Dora； Again a smiling bride； And now the gloomy evening Sees
Alice pale and worn； Leaving the house for ever； To wander out forlorn。
XVIII。
Forlornnay； not so。 Anguish Shall do its work at length； Her soul；
passed through the fire； Shall gain still purer strength。 Somewhere there
waits for Alice An earnest noble part； And； meanwhile God is with her； …
God； and her own true heart！
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LEGENDS AND LYRICS … SECOND SERIES
VERSE： THE WIND
The wind went forth o'er land and sea Loud and free； Foaming waves
leapt up to meet it； Stately pines bowed down to greet it； While the wailing
sea And the forest's murmured sigh Joined the cry Of the wind that swept
o'er land and sea。
The wind that blew upon the sea Fierce and free； Cast the bark upon
the shore； Whence it sailed the night before Full of hope and glee； And the
cry of pain and death Was but a breath； Through the wind that roared upon
the sea。
The wind was whispering on the lea Tenderly； But the white rose felt it
pass； And the fragile stalks of grass Shook with fear to see All her
trembling petals shed； As it fled； So gently by；the wind upon the lea。
Blow； thou wind； upon the sea Fierce and free； And a gentler message
send； Where frail flowers and grasses bend； On the sunny lea； For thy
bidding still is one； Be it done In tenderness or wrath； on land or sea！
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VERSE： EXPECTATION
The King's three daughters stood on the terrace； The hanging terrace；
so broad and green； Which keeps the sea from the marble Palace； There
was Princess May； and Princess Alice； And the youngest Princess；
Gwendoline。
Sighed Princess May； 〃Will it last much longer； Time throbs so slow
and my Heart so quick； And oh； how long is the day in dying； Weary am I
of waiting and sighing； For Hope deferred makes the spirit sick。〃
But Princess Gwendoline smiled and kissed her：… 〃Am I not sadder
than you； my Sister？ Expecting joy is a happy pain。 The Future's
fathomless mine of treasures； All countless hordes of possible pleasures；
Might bring their store to my feet in vain。〃
Sighed Princess Alice as night grew nearer：… 〃So soon； so soon； is the
daylight fled！ And oh； how fast comes the dark to…morrow； Who hides；
perhaps in her veil of sorrow； The terrible hour I wait and dread！〃
But Princess Gwendoline kissed her； sighing； … 〃It is only Life that can
fear dying； Possible loss means possible gain。 Those who still dread； are
not quite forsaken； But not to fear； because all is taken； Is the loneliest
depth of human pain。〃
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VERSE： AN IDEAL
While the grey mists of early dawn Were lingering round the hill； And
the dew was still upon the flowers； And the earth lay calm and still； A
winged Spirit came to me Noble； and radiant； and free。
Folding his blue and shining wings； He laid his hand on mine。 I know
not if I felt； or heard The mystic word divine； Which woke the trembling
air to sighs； And shone from out his starry eyes。
The word he spoke； within my heart Stirred life unknown before； And
cast a spell upon my soul To chain it evermore； Making the cold dull earth
look bright； And skies flame out in sapphire light。
When noon ruled from the heavens； and man Through busy day toiled
on； My Spirit drooped his shining wings； His radiant smile was gone； His
voice had ceased； his grace had flown； His hand grew cold within my own。
Bitter； oh bitter tears； I wept； Yet still I held his hand； Hoping with
vague unreasoning hope： I would not understand That this pale Spirit
never more Could be what he had been before。
Could it be so？ My heart stood still。 Yet he was by my side。 I strove；
but my despair was vain； Vain； too； was love and pride。 Could he have
changed to me so soon？ My day was only at its noon。
Now stars are rising one by one； Through the dim evening air； Near
me a household Spirit waits； With tender loving care； He speaks and
smiles； but never sings； Long since he lost his shining wings。