A single cloud on a sunny day, 295 While all the rest of heaven is clear, A frown upon the atmosphere, That hath no business to appear When skies are blue, and earth is gay. XI A kind of change came in my fate, 300 My keepers grew compassionate; I know not what had made them so, They were inured to sights of woe, But so it was:--my broken chain With links unfastened did remain, 305 And it was liberty to stride Along my cell from side to side, And up and down, and then athwart, And tread it over every part; And round the pillars one by one, 310 Returning where my walk begun. Avoiding only, as I trod, My brothers' graves without a sod; For if I thought with heedless tread My step profaned their lowly bed, 315 My breath came gaspingly and thick, And my crushed heart fell blind and sick. XII I made a footing in the wall, It was not therefrom to escape, For I had buried one and all 320 Who loved me in a human shape; And the whole earth would henceforth be A wider prison unto me: No child--no sire--no kin had I, No partner in my misery; 325 I thought of this, and I was glad, For thought of them had made me mad; But I was curious to ascend To my barred windows, and to bend Once more, upon the mountains high, 330 The quiet of a loving eye. XIII