'Then let the trial come! and witness thou, If terror be upon me; if I shrink To meet the storm, or falter in my strength 610 When hardest it besets me. Do not think That I am fearful and infirm of soul, As late thy eyes beheld: for thou hast changed My nature; thy commanding voice has waked My languid powers to bear me boldly on, Where'er the will divine my path ordains Through toil or peril: only do not thou Forsake me; Oh, be thou for ever near, That I may listen to thy sacred voice, And guide by thy decrees my constant feet. 620 But say, for ever are my eyes bereft? Say, shall the fair Euphrosyne not once Appear again to charm me? Thou, in heaven! O thou eternal arbiter of things! Be thy great bidding done: for who am I, To question thy appointment? Let the frowns Of this avenger every morn o'ercast The cheerful dawn, and every evening damp With double night my dwelling; I will learn To hail them both, and unrepining bear 630 His hateful presence: but permit my tongue One glad request, and if my deeds may find Thy awful eye propitious, oh! restore The rosy-featured maid; again to cheer This lonely seat, and bless me with her smiles.' He spoke; when instant through the sable glooms With which that furious presence had involved The ambient air, a flood of radiance came Swift as the lightning flash; the melting clouds Flew diverse, and amid the blue serene 640 Euphrosyne appear'd. With sprightly step The nymph alighted on the irriguous lawn, And to her wondering audience thus began:-- 'Lo! I am here to answer to your vows, And be the meeting fortunate! I come With joyful tidings; we shall part no more-- Hark! how the gentle echo from her cell Talks through the cliffs, and murmuring o'er the stream Repeats the accents; we shall part no more.-- O my delightful friends! well pleased on high 650 The Father has beheld you, while the might Of that stern foe with bitter trial proved Your equal doings: then for ever spake The high decree, that thou, celestial maid! Howe'er that grisly phantom on thy steps May sometimes dare intrude, yet never more Shalt thou, descending to the abode of man, Alone endure the rancour of his arm, Or leave thy loved Euphrosyne behind.' She ended, and the whole romantic scene 660 Immediate vanish'd; rocks, and woods, and rills, The mantling tent, and each mysterious form Flew like the pictures of a morning dream, When sunshine fills the bed. Awhile I stood Perplex'd and giddy; till the radiant power Who bade the visionary landscape rise, As up to him I turn'd, with gentlest looks Preventing my inquiry, thus began:--