CANTO THE SECOND XXI |
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CANTO THE SECONDXXI
He gazed, as if not yet had pass`d away
The haughty spirit of that humble clay;
And those around have roused him from his trance,
But cannot tear from thence his fixed glance;
And when in raising him from where he bore
Within his arms the form that felt no more,
He saw the head his breast would still sustain,
Roll down like earth to earth upon the plain;
He did not dash himself thereby, nor tear
The glossy tendrils of his raven hair,
But strove to stand and gaze, but reel`d and fell,
Scarce breathing more than that he loved so well.
Than that /he/ lov`d! Oh! never yet beneath
The breast of man such trusty love may breathe!
That trying moment hath at once reveal`d
The secret long and yet but half conceal`d;
In baring to revive that lifeless breast,
Its grief seem`d ended, but the sex confess`d;
And life return`d, and Kaled felt no shame —
What now to her was Womanhood or Fame?
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