"'We send you second to a court, 'tis true; Small, as befits a diplomat so new,' Quoth my wise kinsman: 'but requiring all Your natural gifts;--to rise not is to fall! And harkye, stripling, you are handsome, young, Active, ambitious, and from statesmen sprung! _Wed_ well--add wealth to power by me possess'd, And sleep on roses,--I will find the rest! But one false step,--pshaw, boy! I do not preach Of saws and morals, his own code to each,-- By one false step, I mean one foolish thing, And the wax melts, my Icarus, from your wing! Let not the heart the watchful mind betray,-- Enough!--no answer!--sail the First of May!' "Here, then, from vapour broke at last the sun! Station, career, fame, fortune, all begun! Now, greater need than ever to conceal The secret spring that moved the speeding wheel; And half forgetting that I wish'd forgot, Each thought divides the absent from my lot. One night, escaped my kinsman's hall, which blazed With dames who smiled, and garter'd peers who praised, I seek my lonely home,--ascend the stair,-- Gain my dim room,--what stranger daunts me there? A grey old man!--I froze his look before; } The Gorgon's eye scarce fix'd its victim more,-- } The bride's sad father on the bridegroom's floor! } In the brief pause, how terrible and fast, As on the drowning seaman, rush'd the past! How had he learn'd my name,--abode,--the tie That bound?--for all spoke lightning in his eye. Lo, on the secret in whose darkness lay Power, future, fortune, pour'd the hateful ray! Thus silence ceased. "'When first my home you deign'd To seek, what found you?--cheeks no tears had stain'd! Untroubled hearts, and conscience clear as day: And lips that loved, where now they fear, to pray: 'Twixt kin and kin, sweet commune undefiled-- The grateful father--the confiding child! What now that home?--behold! its change may speak In hair thus silver'd--in this furrow'd cheek! My child'--(he paused, and in his voice, not eyes, Tears seek the vent indignant pride denies) 'My child--God pardon me!--I was too proud To call her "daughter!"--what shall call the crowd? Man--man, she cowers beneath a Father's eye, And shuns his blessing--with one wish to die; And I that death-bed will resign'd endure If--speak the word--the soul that parts is pure?' "'Who dares deny it?' I began, but check'd In the warm burst--cold wisdom hiss'd--'Reflect; Thy fears had outstripp'd truth--as yet unknown, The vows, the bond!--are these for thee to own?' The father mark'd my pause, and changing cheek, 'Go on!--why falter if the truth thou speak?' "Who dares deny it?"--Thou!--thy lip--thine eye-- Thy heart--thy conscience--_these_ are what deny? O Heaven, that I were not thy priest!'