Had taken root between them. Either mind

Found in the other tokens of its kind

Which spoke in more than words, and naturally

Leaned to its fellow-mind as tree to tree.

Lord L., who had known the prince in other days,

While riding home had spoken in his praise,

And won Griselda's heart and patient smile,

For divers threadbare tales of blameless guile

Among the virtuosi, where the prince

Had played his part with skill and influence,

His sworn ally. Lord L. grew eloquent,

Finding her ears such rapt attention lent,

38

And could have gone on talking all his life

About his friend's perfections to his wife.

Griselda listened. In her heart there stirred

A strange unconscious pleasure at each word,

Which made the sunshine brighter and the sky

More blue, more tender in its sympathy.

The hills of the Campagna crowned with snow

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