“A righteous strength will nerve thine arm, And courage fill thy breast: And having bravely warred on harm, The cries of victory shall charm Thy dying eyes to rest.

“And succoured ones shall praise his name Who, toiling for them, died. p. 122And, nobly sung, his honest fame Shall beat in hearts unborn, and claim Their love and grateful pride.

p. 122

“And Love will lead her sacrifice To where a shining row Stand beckoning to the heights of bliss; And she will clasp his hands and kiss Welcome upon his brow.”

I knew not when the singing ceased To trance my brightened soul, Then from that long eclipse released. But looking hopeful towards the East, I saw flush pole to pole

The dawn, that had begun to show, And through dank vapour burned, As in a sick face lying low The rich incarnadine would glow, When healthy life returned.

p. 123Small drowsy chirping met the light, And dim in lowlands far Lone marsh-birds winged their misty flight; What time Her aspect on my sight Beamed from the morning star.

p. 123

It waned into the warbling day; That, rising fierce and strong, Now looked the Western gloom away, And kindled such a roundelay, The world awoke with song,

And fresh delicious breezes came With scents of paradise So tingling through my knitted frame, That never since I lisped a name Knew I such joy arise.

Pure was the azure over head; Bright was the earth around; p. 124While I on resolution fed, And moved, as one called from the dead, In silence on the ground.

p. 124

Toward my home I walked, elate  With hope and settled plan: And reverent to the will of Fate, In every step I trod my weight, A sober-minded man.

p. 125PART THE THIRD.

p. 125

p. 127I. YEARS AFTER.

p. 127

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