That now remain—the air, the eye, the face? And then my father—but how different seem These visitations—this, indeed, a dream! 690 “Then for that token on my wrist—’tis here, And very slight to you it must appear; Here, I’ll withdraw the bracelet—’tis a speck! No more! but ’tis upon my life a check.”— “O! lovely all, and like its sister arm! Call this a check, dear lady? ’tis a charm— A slight, an accidental mark—no more”—— Slight as it is, it was not there before; Then was there weakness, and I bound it——Nay! This is infringement—take those lips away! 700 “On the fourth day came letters, and I cried, } ‘Richard is dead,’ and named the day he died: } A proof of knowledge, true! but one, alas! of pride. } The signs to me were brought, and not my lord, But I impatient waited not the word; And much he marvell’d, reading of the night In which th’ immortal spirit took its flight. “Yes! I beheld my brother at my bed, } The hour he died! the instant he was dead— } His presence now I see! now trace him as he fled. 710} “Ah! fly me, George, in very pity, fly; Thee I reject, but yield thee reasons why; Our fate forbids—the counsel heaven has sent We must adopt, or grievously repent; And I adopt”——George humbly bow’d, and sigh’d, But, lost in thought, he look’d not nor replied; Yet feebly utter’d in his sad adieu, “I must not doubt thy truth, but perish if thou’rt true.” But when he thought alone, his terror gone Of the strange story, better views came on. 720 “Nay, my enfeebled heart, be not dismay’d! A boy again, am I of ghosts afraid? Does she believe it? Say she does believe, } Is she not born of error and of Eve? } O! there is lively hope I may the cause retrieve.” } “‘If you re-wed,’ exclaim’d the Ghost—For what Puts he the case, if marry she will not? He knows her fate—but what am I about? Do I believe?—’tis certain I have doubt, And so has she—what therefore will she do? 730} She the predicted fortune will pursue, } And by th’ event will judge if her strange dream was true; } The strong temptation to her thought applied Will gain new strength, and will not be denied; The very threat against the thing we love Will the vex’d spirit to resistance move; With vows to virtue weakness will begin, And fears of sinning let in thoughts of sin.” Strong in her sense of weakness, now withdrew The cautious lady from the lover’s view; 740 But she perceived the looks of all were changed— Her kind old friends grew peevish and estranged; A fretful spirit reign’d, and discontent From room to room in sullen silence went; And the kind widow was distress’d at heart To think that she no comfort could impart: “But he will go,” she said, “and he will strive In fields of glorious energy to drive Love from his bosom—Yes, I then may stay,