At length their time was come, they were To leave me, Luke: thou hast been bound not loth To give their bodies to the family mould. I wished that thou shouldst live the life they lived, 371 But tis a long time to look back, my Son, to me 400 Only by links of love: when thou art gone, What will be left to us!-But I forget And see so little gain from threescore When thou art gone away, should evil years. men 405 These fields were burthened when they Be thy companions, think of me, my Son, And of this moment; hither turn thy came to me; And God will strengthen thee: amid all fear And all temptation, Luke, I pray that thou May'st bear in mind the life thy Fathers lived, 410 Who, being innocent, did for that cause Bestir them in good deeds. Now, fare thee well When thou return'st, thou in this place wilt see A work which is not here: a covenant 414 "Twill be between us; but, whatever fate Befall thee, I shall love thee to the last, And bear thy memory with me to the grave." The Shepherd ended here; and Luke stooped down, And, as his Father had requested, laid The first stone of the Sheep-fold. At the sight 420 The old Man's grief broke from him; to his heart He pressed his Son, he kissed him and wept ; And to the house together they returned. -Hushed was that House in peace, or seeming peace, Ere the night fell:-with morrow's dawn the Boy 425 Began his journey, and, when he had reached The public way, he put on a bold face; And all the neighbours, as he passed their doors, prayers, Came forth with wishes and with farewell 429 That followed him till he was out of sight. His flock had need. 'Tis not forgotten A just repayment, both for conscient yet The pity which was then in every heart For the old Man-and 'tis believed by all sake And that herself and hers should stan upright the world's eye. Her work when day- She smiles as if a martyr's crown were light failed won: Paused not, and through the depth of Oft, when light breaks through clouds or waving trees, "Whence the undeserved mistrust? T wide apart "Yes, kind Lady! otherwise man could not bear Life, which to every one that breathes is Our faith hath been,-O would that ey "Generous Frank! the just in effort Are of inward peace secure : Hardships for the brave encountered Even the feeblest may endure: 30 return, If almighty grace through me thy chains Soft as a guiding star that cheers, b cannot burn.” XII. "Gracious Allah! by such title Do I dare to thank the God, Him who thus exalts thy spirit, Flower of an unchristian sod! Or hast thou put off wings which thou heaven dost wear? What have I seen, and heard, or dream where am I? where?" XIII. Here broke off the dangerous convers Less impassioned words might tell How the pair escaped together, Tears not wanting, nor a knell Of sorrow in her heart while through father's door, And from her narrow world, she passe for evermore. On a friendly deck reposing They at length for Venice steer; There, when they had closed their voyage, One, who daily on the pier And how blest the Reunited, While beneath their castle-walls Watched for tidings from the East, be- Doth in its silence of past sorrow tell, held his Lord, And makes a meeting seem most like a dear farewell. |