GIRL. In Verreopolis I saw thee walking in those gardens fair That like a rich, embroidered belt surround That mighty city; and one bade me look At her whose genius had illumined bright Her age, and country, with undying splendour. The majesty of thy imperial form, The fire and sweetness of thy radiant eye, Alike conspired to impress thine image Upon my memory; and thus it is That now I know thee as thou sittest there Queen-like, beneath the over-shadowing boughs Of that huge oak-tree, monarch of this wood. LADY ELLRINGTON [_smiling graciously_]. Who art thou, maiden? GIRL. Marian is my name. LADY ELLRINGTON [_starting up: aside_]. Ha! my rival! [_Sternly_] What dost thou here alone? MARIAN [_aside_]. How her tone changed! [_Aloud_] My favourite cushat-dove, Whose plumes are whiter than new-fallen snow, Hath wandered, heedless, from my vigilant care. I saw it gleaming through these dusky trees, Fair as a star, while soft it glided by: So have I come to find and lure it back. LADY ELLRINGTON. Are all thy affections centred in a bird? For thus thou speakest, as though nought were worthy Of thought or care saving a silly dove! MARIAN. Nay, lady, I’ve a father, and mayhap Others whom gratitude or tenderest ties, If such there be, bind my heart closer to. LADY ELLRINGTON. But birds and flowers and such trifles vain Seem most to attract thy love, if I may form A judgment from thy locks elaborate curled And wreathed around with woven garlandry, And from thy whining speech, all redolent With tone of most affected sentiment. [_She seizes MARIAN, and exclaims with a violent gesture:_ Wretch, I could kill thee! MARIAN. Why, what have I done? How have I wronged thee? Surely thou ’rt distraught! LADY ELLRINGTON. How hast thou wronged me? Where didst weave the net Whose cunning meshes have entangled round The mightiest heart that e’er in mortal breast Did beat responsive unto human feeling? MARIAN. The net? What net? I wove no net; she’s frantic! LADY ELLRINGTON. Dull, simple creature! Canst not understand? MARIAN. Truly, I cannot. ’Tis to me a problem, An unsolved riddle, an enigma dark. LADY ELLRINGTON. I’ll tell thee, then. But, hark! What voice is that? VOICE [_from the forest_]. Marian, where art thou? I have found a rose Fair as thyself. Come hither, and I’ll place it With the blue violets on thine ivory brow.