The boy set up betwixt his grandsire's knees, 6 But, now, Sir, let me have my boy, for you His father's memory; and take Dora back, And let all this be as it was before. " So Mary said, and Dora hid her face By Mary. There was silence in the room; And all at once the old man burst in sobs: "I have been to blame -to blame. I have kill'd my son. I have kill'd him-but I loved him-my dear son. Kiss me, my children. Then they clung about The old man's neck, and kiss'd him many times. And all the man was broken with remorse; And all his love came back a hundred-fold; And for three hours he sobb'd o'er William's child, So those four abode Within one house together; and as years LADY CLARE I IT was the time when lilies blow, II I trow they did not part in scorn: "He does not love me for my birth, IV In there came old Alice the nurse, Said, "Who was this that went from thee?" "It was my cousin, " said Lady Clare; "To-morrow he weds with me. V "O God be thank'd!" said Alice the nurse, "Are you out of your mind, my nurse, my nurse?" Said Lady Clare, "that ye speak so wild?" "As God's above, " said Alice the nurse, "I speak the truth: you are my child. VII "The old Earl's daughter died at my breast; VIII "Falsely, falsely have ye done, O mother, she said, "if this be true, 66 IX (1) Nay now, my child, " said Alice the nurse, And all you have will be Lord Ronald's X "If I'm a beggar born," she said, 66 XI Nay now, my child," said Alice the nurse, She said, 66 66 Not so: but I will know If there be any faith in man. Nay now, what faith? "The man will cleave "And he shall have it, 66 XII said Alice the nurse. unto his right ". the lady replied, Tho' I should die to-night.' (1) Nel privare per tanti anni il miglior uomo che è sotto la cappa del cielo (cioè Lord Ronald) di ciò che gli spettava (ossia dei beni di cui era diventata indebitamente proprietaria Donna Clara stessa). XIII "Yet give one kiss to your mother dear! XIV "Yet here's a kiss for my mother dear, And lay your hand upon my head, XV She clad herself in a russet gown, She went by dale, and she went by down, XVI The lily-white doe Lord Ronald had brought XVII Down stept Lord Ronald from his tower: 66 XVIII If I come drest like a village maid, I am a beggar born," she said, "And not the Lady Clare. (1) Perchè, tu che sei il fiore della terra, 'en vieni vestita come una contadinella? XIX 66 Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours Play me no tricks, in word and in deed. "Your riddle is hard to read. XX O and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail: She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. XXI He laughed a laugh of merry scorn: 66 He turn'd and kissed her where she stood: If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood XXII "If you are not the heiress born, THE FALLING OUT OF HUSBAND AND WIFE (1). As thro' the land at eve we went, We fell out, my wife and I, O we fell out I know not why, And kiss'd again with tears. (1) Questa e le quattro brevi poesie che seguono sono tratte dal poema The Princess ». |