Page:The Spirit of the Age.djvu/297

Rh reader judge from the two subjoined specimens how far the one writer could ever, without a presumption equalled only by a want of self-knowledge, set himself in judgment on the other.

"Out went the taper as she hurried in; &ensp;Its little smoke in pallid moonshine died: &ensp;She closed the door, she panted, all akin &ensp;To spirits of the air and visions wide: &ensp;No utter'd syllable, or woe betide! &ensp;But to her heart, her heart was voluble, &ensp;Paining with eloquence her balmy side; &ensp;As though a tongueless nightingale should swell &ensp;Her heart in vain, and die, heart-stifled, in her dell.

"A casement high and triple-arch'd there was, &ensp;All garlanded with carven imag'ries &ensp;Of fruits, and flowers, and bunches of knot-grass, &ensp;And diamonded with panes of quaint device. &ensp;Innumerable of stains and splendid dyes, &ensp;As are the tiger-moth's deep-damask'd wings; &ensp;And in the midst, 'mong thousand heraldries, &ensp;And twilight saints and dim emblazonings, &ensp;A shielded scutcheon blush'd with blood of queens and kings.

"Full on this casement shone the wintry moon, &ensp;And threw warm gules on Madeline's fair breast. &ensp;As down she knelt for Heaven's grace and boon; &ensp;Rose-bloom fell on her hands, together prest, &ensp;And on her silver cross soft amethyst,