He sees the flash of her wide, dark eye, He hears her clear voice rise and fall: “Sooner than sell my faith in Christ, My life I’d yield--my love--my all! Content my bridal vows should prove A martyr’s grave and a virgin’s pall!” [Illustration] Then, in the flames, his other self He sees, erect in scorn and pride: “Sooner would I a leper be, Far from the world to crouch and hide, Than bend to a Christian priest mine knee, Or take to mine arms a Christian bride!” [Illustration] The royal blood leaps in her face, Her voice rings out its golden knell: “O Christ! incline Thy pitying grace, And pardon this poor infidel!” Then, with averted, shuddering gaze, “Unhappy Ragnal! fare thee well!” [Illustration] A sudden darkness shuts her in ... The flutter of her snowy gown-- The sunlit towers--the sparkling waves In pallid embers, crumble down; As Ragnal by the fire sits, A leprous Prince without a crown! [Illustration] “O lily, nurtured by the sea! Sweet Dympna, long-lost, promised bride! Thine unknown Christ”--(he cries aloud): “This night hath triumph’d o’er my pride! Forgive me!”--Lo! a gust of song Fills all the wintry world outside! [Illustration] THE DAWN. A thrilling, heavenly harmony From silvern harps and lutes divine: The Leper, prostrate on his face, Drinks in the glorious draught like wine; Then, rising, reels like drunken wight, Into the starlight’s wondrous shine. [Illustration] For strange, unearthly lustres fill The frosty air. To Ragnal blown, Across Lough Erne, there comes the breath Of sweetest blossoms ever grown; Yet, right or left, above, below, No living thing or shape is shown. [Illustration] All wordless, o’er the sparkling Lough, The music steals again--but hark! “_Gloria in excelsis!_” sings A voice, up-soaring like a lark; While: “_Et in terra pax!_” (strange words!) Drop down to Ragnal thro’ the dark. [Illustration] His breast heaves with a mighty fear, The strong man trembles like a reed: The while the minstrels float before, (Tho’ ulcer’d feet and ankles bleed), Straight onward through the shining wood, He needs must follow where they lead; [Illustration] And walks, and walks, and walks, and walks, His bare feet buried in the snow; While flaming eyes of savage beasts From bog and thicket, glare and glow. He sees the stars slide down the east, He hears the cocks begin to crow. [Illustration] Yet walks, and walks, and walks, and walks, Till ev’ry nerve and sinew aches, And sweat and blood and loathly scales Mark ev’ry painful step he takes-- When, suddenly, the rapturous sound That lured him on--his path forsakes! [Illustration]