Page:Rosalind and Helen (Shelley, Forman).djvu/23

Rh And now we stood on the altar stair, When my father came from a distant land, And with a loud and fearful cry Rushed between us suddenly. I saw the stream of his thin grey hair, I saw his lean and lifted hand, And heard his words,—and live! Oh God! Wherefore do I live?—'Hold, hold!' He cried,—'I tell thee 'tis her brother! Thy mother, boy, beneath the sod Of yon church-yard rests in her shroud so cold: I am now weak, and pale, and old: We were once dear to one another, I and that corpse! Thou art our child!' Then with a laugh both long and wild The youth upon the pavement fell: They found him dead! All looked on me, The spasms of my despair to see: But I was calm. I went away: I was clammy-cold like clay! I did not weep: I did not speak: But day by day, week after week, I walked about like a corpse alive! Alas! sweet friend, you must believe This heart is stone: it did not break.

My father lived a little while, But all might see that he was dying, He smiled with such a woful smile! When he was in the church-yard lying Among the worms, we grew quite poor, So that no one would give us bread: