Mother, and sharer of his hearth and all

His gear. Thus every night: and on the wall

She watches every dawn for what dawn brings.

And the strong spirit of her took new wings

And left her lovely body in the arms

Of him who doted, conning o'er her charms,

And witless held a shell; but forth as light

As the first sigh of dawn her spirit took flight

Across the dusky plain to where fires gleamed

And muffled guards stood sentry; and it streamed

Within the hut, and hovered like a wraith,

A presence felt, not seen, as when gray Death

Seems to the dying man a bedside guest,

But to the watchers cannot be exprest.

So hovered Helen in a dream, and yearned

Over the sleeper as he moaned and turned,

Renewing his day's torment in his sleep;

Who presently starts up and sighing deep,

Searches the entry, if haply in the skies

[19]

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