She sang; she trembled like a lyre; Her pure eyes burned with azure fire; About her lucent brow the hair Played like light flames divine ones wear: The maid was very fair. But when she saw he gave no heed,-- Close-mantled up in ancient pain As in some sad-wound weed, Dumb as a shape of stone, Being years past all moan,-- She tried no other strain, But softly spake: “Most royal sir!” He raised his head and looked at her. So might a castaway, half dead, Lift up his haggard head, Waked by the swirl of sudden rain, A cool, unhoped-for grace, Against his tearless face: And see, with happy-crazèd mind, Upon his raft a Bright One stand,-- His love of youth, her grave long left behind In some sweet-watered land. THE KING’S DIAMOND _This diamond he greets your wife withal By the name of most kind hostess._ MACBETH, Act II. Sc. I. Duncan the King,--Heaven rest his bier!-- Had a diamond icy-clear; Clear as ice and fierce as flame,-- I wot not whence he had the same. Its fellow was not in the land. It shot keen shafts of every hue On the old king’s trembling hand Where the veins were large and blue. A jewel of price was that indeed, Fit to buy a prince’s life; A royal gift for the lady wife Of a kinsman bold and true Who had served the king at need. Who was he, but the Red Macbeth That wrought the false Macdonwald’s death, And drave the sea-wolf in dismay, Sweyn the king of Norroway? Being guest to that great thane, Ere his limbs on couch had lain, Duncan sent that frozen flame To Lady Gruach, the gracious dame. (Clear as ice was the lady’s fame, A flawless jewel indeed!) Duncan the king at Colmkill sleeps, So sound he will not turn or moan; His slumber-draught was deep, I ween, Bitter-spiced with daggers keen. It is the Red Macbeth that keeps Stern state upon the throne, With Gruach, his kind queen. (“Most kind,” the old King Duncan said, Before he lay in his last bed.) The Lady Gruach wears the crown, She wears the glistering golden gown, But yet she has not worn the ring That was the guerdon of the king. In the dark the diamond lies, Seen of no vassal’s eyes.