Ah! who could think that sadness here 25 Hath[104] any sway? or pain, or fear? A soft and lulling sound is heard Of streams inaudible by day;[JJ] The garden pool's dark surface, stirred By the night insects in their play, 30 Breaks into dimples small and bright; A thousand, thousand rings of light That shape themselves and disappear Almost as soon as seen:--and lo! Not distant far, the milk-white Doe-- 35 The same who quietly was feeding On the green herb, and nothing heeding, When Francis, uttering to the Maid[105] His last words in the yew-tree shade, Involved whate'er by love was brought 40 Out of his heart, or crossed his thought, Or chance presented to his eye, In one sad sweep of destiny--[106] The same fair Creature, who hath found Her way into forbidden ground; 45 Where now--within this spacious plot For pleasure made, a goodly spot, With lawns and beds of flowers, and shades Of trellis-work in long arcades, And cirque and crescent framed by wall 50 Of close-clipt foliage green and tall, Converging walks, and fountains gay, And terraces in trim array-- Beneath yon cypress spiring high, With pine and cedar spreading wide 55 Their darksome boughs on either side, In open moonlight doth she lie; Happy as others of her kind, That, far from human neighbourhood, Range unrestricted as the wind, 60 Through park, or chase, or savage wood. But see the consecrated Maid Emerging from a cedar shade[107] To open moonshine, where the Doe Beneath the cypress-spire is laid; 65 Like a patch of April snow-- Upon a bed of herbage green, Lingering in a woody glade Or behind a rocky screen-- Lonely relic! which, if seen 70 By the shepherd, is passed by With an inattentive eye. Nor more regard doth She bestow Upon the uncomplaining Doe[108] Now couched at ease, though oft this day 75 Not unperplexed nor free from pain, When she had tried, and tried in vain, Approaching in her gentle way, To win some look of love, or gain Encouragement to sport or play; 80 Attempts which still the heart-sick Maid Rejected, or with slight repaid.[109]