Far from sin--far from sorrow Let me stay--let me stay! From the fear of to-morrow Far away--far away! I am weary and shaken, Let me stay--let me stay, Till in death I awaken Far away--far away! [_Towards the close of the song, she sinks on her knees as a ray of moonlight falls on her. FLORIAN has watched her eagerly during the song, with every symptom of the profoundest admiration._ _Flor._ Oh, Heaven enlighten me--is this fair thing A soul of Earth--a being, born of woman, Conscious of sin and destined to decay? Oh, Good and Ill, how share ye such a spoil! Can this pure form, instinct with Heaven’s own light, Clothed in the majesty of innocence, Have aught in common with the vapid toy We break and cast aside? Oh, sordid Earth, Praise Heaven that leaves this angel yet unclaimed. Oh, heart of mine--oh, wilful, wayward heart, Bow down in homage--thou art caught and caged! [_During these lines HILDA, seated by the fountain, has been playing with its water, and kissing her wet hands._ _Hil._ The sun has set--the fierce hot thirsty sun Who, like a greedy vampire as he is, Drinks my love’s life-blood till it pines away, And dwindles to a thread. The moon’s abroad-- _She_ is not jealous of my fountain love; She sheds her gentle light upon our tryst And decks my love with diamonds of her own! _Flor._ (_aside_). Poor, senseless fount! To have thy home in Heaven And not to know it! _Hil._ Shall I tell thee how I came to give my poor bruised heart to thee? Or art thou of those churlish lovers who Can brook no love that is not born of them? Why, then, I am unworthy in thine eyes, For I have loved, as women love but once! He was a prince--a brave, God-fearing knight-- The very pink and bloom of Chivalry, Proud as a war-horse--fair as the dawn of day-- Staunch as a Woman--tender as a Man! He knew not that I loved him. Who was I That he should mark the flushing of _my_ face, Amid a thousand maids whose stricken hearts Danced to their lips, as he, my prince, rode by? One sullen winter day--dark as his doom, He left his home to seek a distant land. A weary while I wept--months passed away, And yet no tidings came. Then tales were told Of ships o’erwhelmed by boisterous wintry seas; And rough men prayed, and maidens wept aloud, For he was loved of all! Then came the news; At first in shuddering whispers, one by one-- Then babbled by ten thousand clamorous tongues-- The cold fierce sea had robbed me of my love! My star--my light--my life--my Florian! _Flor._ (_aside_). Oh, senseless dullard--to have turned away From Heaven’s own threshold at thine own free will!