So far he took them on through this green land, The maiden and her nurse, till journeying They saw at last a peaceful city stand On a steep mount, and heard its clear bells ring. High were the towers and rich with ancient state, In its old wall enclosed and massive gate. There dwelt a worthy matron whom he knew, To whom in time of war he gave good aid, Shielding her household from the plundering crew When neither law could bind nor worth persuade, And to her house he brought his care and pride, Aweary with the way and sleepy-eyed. And he, the man whom she was fain to serve, Delayed not shortly his request to make, Which was, if aught of her he did deserve, To take the maid, and rear her for his sake, To guard her youth, and let her breeding be In womanly reserve and modesty. And that same night into the house he brought The costly fruits of all his voyages-- Rich Indian gems of wandering craftsmen wrought, Long ropes of pearls from Persian palaces, With ingots pure and coins of Venice mould, And silver bars and bags of Spanish gold; And costly merchandise of far-off lands, And golden stuffs and shawls of Eastern dye, He gave them over to the matron's hands, With jewelled gauds, and toys of ivory, To be her dower on whom his love was set,-- His dearest child, fair Madam Margaret. Then he entreated, that if he should die, She would not cease her guardian mission mild. Awhile, as undecided, lingered nigh, Beside the pillow of the sleeping child, Severed one wandering lock of wavy hair, Took horse that night, and left her unaware. And it was long before he came again-- So long that Margaret was woman grown; And oft she wished for his return in vain, Calling him softly in an undertone; Repeating words that he had said the while, And striving to recall his look and smile. If she had known--oh, if she could have known-- The toils, the hardships of those absent years-- How bitter thraldom forced the unwilling groan-- How slavery wrung out subduing tears, Not calmly had she passed her hours away, Chiding half pettishly the long delay. But she was spared. She knew no sense of harm, While the red flames ascended from the deck; Saw not the pirate band the crew disarm, Mourned not the floating spars, the smoking wreck. She did not dream, and there was none to tell, That fetters bound the hands she loved so well. Sweet Margaret--withdrawn from human view, She spent long hours beneath the cedar shade, The stately trees that in the garden grew, And, overtwined, a towering shelter made; She mused among the flowers, and birds, and bees, In winding walks, and bowering canopies; Or wandered slowly through the ancient rooms, Where oriel windows shed their rainbow gleams; And tapestried hangings, wrought in Flemish looms, Displayed the story of King Pharaoh's dreams; And, come at noon because the well was deep, Beautiful Rachel leading down her sheep.