[18]Bright was[19] the Creature, as in dreams The Boy had seen her, yea, more bright; But is she truly what she seems? He asks with insecure delight, 195 Asks of himself, and doubts,--and still The doubt returns against his will: Though he, and all the standers-by, Could tell a tragic history Of facts divulged, wherein appear 200 Substantial motive, reason clear, Why thus the milk-white Doe is found Couchant beside that lonely mound; And why she duly loves to pace The circuit of this hallowed place. 205 Nor to the Child's inquiring mind Is such perplexity confined: For, spite of sober Truth that sees A world of fixed remembrances Which to this mystery belong, 210 If, undeceived, my skill can trace The characters of every face, There lack not strange delusion here, Conjecture vague, and idle fear, And superstitious fancies strong, 215 Which do the gentle Creature wrong. That bearded, staff-supported Sire-- Who in his boyhood often fed[20] Full cheerily on convent-bread And heard old tales by the convent-fire, 220 And to his grave will go with scars, Relics of long and distant wars--[21] That Old Man, studious to expound The spectacle, is mounting[22] high To days of dim antiquity; 225 When Lady Aäliza mourned Her Son,[P] and felt in her despair The pang of unavailing prayer; Her Son in Wharf's abysses drowned, The noble Boy of Egremound.[Q] 230 From which affliction--when the grace Of God had in her heart found place--[23] A pious structure, fair to see, Rose up, this stately Priory! The Lady's work;--but now laid low; 235 To the grief of her soul that doth come and go, In the beautiful form of this innocent Doe: Which, though seemingly doomed in its breast to sustain A softened remembrance of sorrow and pain, Is spotless, and holy, and gentle, and bright; 240 And glides o'er the earth like an angel of light.