His will swayed sicklily from side to side, Nor merely neutralized his waking act But tended e'en in fancy to distract The intermediate will, the choice of means. He lost the art of dreaming: Mantuan scenes Supplied a baron, say, he sang before, Handsomely reckless, full to running o'er Of gallantries; "abjure the soul, content With body, therefore!" Scarcely had he bent Himself in dream thus low, when matter fast Cried out, he found, for spirit to contrast And task it duly; by advances slight, The simple stuff becoming composite, Count Lori grew Apollo--best recall His fancy! Then would some rough peasant-Paul, Like those old Ecelin confers with, glance His gay apparel o'er; that countenance Gathered his shattered fancies into one, And, body clean abolished, soul alone Sufficed the gray Paulieian: by and by, [Sidenote: And his own degradation is complete.] To balance the ethereality, Passions were needed; foiled he sank again. Meanwhile the world rejoiced ('t is time explain) Because a sudden sickness set it free From Adelaide. Missing the mother-bee, Her mountain-hive Romano swarmed; at once A rustle-forth of daughters and of sons Blackened the valley. "I am sick too, old, Half-crazed I think; what good 's the Kaiser's gold To such an one? God help me! for I catch My children's greedy sparkling eyes at watch-- 'He bears that double breastplate on,' they say, 'So many minutes less than yesterday!' Beside, Monk Hilary is on his knees Now, sworn to kneel and pray till God shall please Exact a punishment for many things You know, and some you never knew; which brings To memory, Azzo's sister Beatrix And Richard's Giglia are my Alberic's And Ecelin's betrothed; the Count himself Must get my Palma: Ghibellin and Guelf Mean to embrace each other." So began [Sidenote: Adelaide's death: what happens on it:] Romano's missive to his fighting man Taurello--on the Tuscan's death, away With Friedrich sworn to sail from Naples' bay Next month for Syria. Never thunder-clap Out of Vesuvius' throat, like this mishap Startled him. "That accursed Vicenza! I Absent, and she selects this time to die! Ho, fellows, for Vicenza!" Half a score Of horses ridden dead, he stood before Romano in his reeking spurs: too late-- "Boniface urged me, Este could not wait," The chieftain stammered; "let me die in peace-- Forget me! Was it I who craved increase Of rule? Do you and Friedrich plot your worst Against the Father: as you found me first So leave me now. Forgive me! Palma, sure, Is at Goito still. Retain that lure-- Only be pacified!" The country rung With such a piece of news: on every tongue, How Ecelin's great servant, congeed off,