As I told you. And 'twas thus—

"By the blue Trinacrian sea,

Far in pastoral Sicily

With Theocritus"—

That I answered you who asked.

But the curious part was this:—

[Pg 38]

That the whole thing was amiss;

That the Greek but masked

Tales of old Boccaccio—

Tall Decameronian maids

Strolled among Italian glades,

Smiling, sweet and slow.

And when you approached,—my book

Dropped in wonder,—seemingly

To myself I said, "'Tis she!"

And arose to look

In Lauretta's eyes and—true!

Found them yours.—You shook your head,

Laughing at me, as you said,

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