Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/29

Rh Flashed out a sudden vision; and a word

Like one fine note of music caught his ear:

"Alberto!"—but he started not with joy

At the sweet bidding. Sullenly he turned

And gazed in silence, till from very fear

Of this dark mood she fled into his arms,

And nestled timidly upon his breast,

And looked into his face, and spoke again

His name in softest accents: "My Alberto!"

Still did he gaze unmoved, until her tears

Forced from his lips their venom. "Eloise,

Once to have held thee thus within my arms

Would have been bliss like heaven's. But thou art false—

Most beautiful, but false." And with his gaze

Bent sternly on the pale and tearful face

Turned upward to his own, he pushed her back,

And folded up his arms.

"Art thou not mad,

Dearest Alberto; or is this a fraud,

Though strange and cruel, used to try my love?

Tell me if thou dost mean to test my truth."

"Thou hast no truth to prove, fair Eloise;

And I say thou art false, who loved thee most;

Then spare us both these feints and artful words.

I could forgive thee if thou didst not play

The actress with me now. And now I go;

But ere I go, I'll say I do forgive thee.

God bless thee, Eloise!"

"One moment stay!

Leave me not, or I die, this hour and here.

My senses are bewildered, and this seems

An ill-timed jest that you will soon explain.

You can not think me false. Oh, aught but this!

Tell me your love is altered, or protest

That you have never loved me: that would give