Page:The Vespers of Palermo.pdf/72



Welcome; we meet in joy! Now may we bear ourselves erect, resuming The kingly port of freemen! Who shall dare, After this proof of slavery's dread recoil, To weave us chains again?—Ye have done well.

We have done well. There need no choral song, No shouting multitudes to blazon forth Our stern exploits.—The silence of our foes Doth vouch enough, and they are laid to rest Deep as the sword could make it. Yet our task Is still but half achieved, since, with his bands, De Couci hath escaped, and, doubtless, leads Their footsteps to Messina, where our foes Will gather all their strength. Determined hearts, And deeds to startle earth, are yet required, To make the mighty sacrifice complete.— Where is thy son?

I know not. Once last night He cross'd my path, and with one stroke beat down A sword just raised to smite me, and restored My own, which in that deadly strife had been Wrench'd from my grasp: but when I would have press'd him To my exulting bosom, he drew back, And with a sad, and yet a scornful, smile, Full of strange meaning, left me. Since that hour I have not seen him. Wherefore didst thou ask?