Page:The Improvisatrice.pdf/199

Rh

Which Guido draws when he would form a saint Whose hopes are fixed on Heaven, but who has yet Some earthly feelings binding them to life. Her arm was leant upon a graceful youth, The hope, the comfort of her widowhood; He was departing from her, and she led The youthful soldier to his father's tomb— As in the visible presence of the dead She gave her farewell blessing; and her voice Lost its so tremulous accents as she bade Her child tread in that father's steps, and told How brave, how honoured he had been. But when She did entreat him to remember all Her hopes were centered in him, that he was The stay of her declining years, that he Might be the happiness of her old age,