Their words though faint were many--from the tone Their import those who heard could judge alone; 1100 From this, you might have deemed young Kaled's death More near than Lara's by his voice and breath, So sad--so deep--and hesitating broke The accents his scarce-moving pale lips spoke;[kv] But Lara's voice, though low, at first was clear And calm, till murmuring Death gasped hoarsely near; But from his visage little could we guess, So unrepentant--dark--and passionless,[kw] Save that when struggling nearer to his last, Upon that page his eye was kindly cast; 1110 And once, as Kaled's answering accents ceased, Rose Lara's hand, and pointed to the East: Whether (as then the breaking Sun from high Rolled back the clouds) the morrow caught his eye, Or that 'twas chance--or some remembered scene, That raised his arm to point where such had been, Scarce Kaled seemed to know, but turned away, As if his heart abhorred that coming day, And shrunk his glance before that morning light, To look on Lara's brow--where all grew night. 1120 Yet sense seemed left, though better were its loss; For when one near displayed the absolving Cross, And proffered to his touch the holy bead, Of which his parting soul might own the need, He looked upon it with an eye profane, And smiled--Heaven pardon! if 'twere with disdain: And Kaled, though he spoke not, nor withdrew From Lara's face his fixed despairing view, With brow repulsive, and with gesture swift, Flung back the hand which held the sacred gift, 1130 As if such but disturbed the expiring man, Nor seemed to know his life but _then_ began-- That Life of Immortality, secure[kx] To none, save them whose faith in Christ is sure. XX. But gasping heaved the breath that Lara drew,[ky] And dull the film along his dim eye grew; His limbs stretched fluttering, and his head drooped o'er The weak yet still untiring knee that bore; He pressed the hand he held upon his heart-- It beats no more, but Kaled will not part 1140 With the cold grasp, but feels, and feels in vain, For that faint throb which answers not again. "It beats!"--Away, thou dreamer! he is gone-- It once _was_ Lara which thou look'st upon. XXI.