TO THE SPIRIT OF POETRY

ALL things are changed save thee, - thou art the same,

Only perchance more dear, as one friend grows

When other friends have turn'd away. Who knows

With what strange joy thou didst my life inflame

Before I took upon my lips the name Which vows me to thy service? Come thou close;

For to thy feet to-day my being flows,
As when, a boy, for comforting I came.
Thou, whose transfiguring touch makes
speech divine,

Whose eyes are deeper than deep seas or skies,

Warm with thy fire this heart, these lips of

I was a public notary in Cesena ;

Our life was humble, but so happy: thou Wert in thy cradle then, and many a night

Thy mother and I sate hand in hand to-
gether,
Watching thine innocent smiles, and build-
ing up

Long plans of joy to come!
Fio.
Alas! she died!
Ber. Died! There are deaths 't is com-
fort to look back on:

Hers was not such a death. A devil came Across our quiet life, and mark'd her beauty,

And lusted for her; and when she scorn'd his offers,

Because he was a noble, great and strong, He bore her from my side by force

and after

-

There's danger in the cup his fingers clutch:

But bid me not forswear revenge. No word!

Thou know'st now why I mew thee up sc close;

Keep thee out of the streets; shut thee from eyes

And tongues of lawless men - for in these days

All men are lawless. 'Tis because I fear
To lose thee, as I lost thy mother.
Fio.

I'll pray for her.

Father,

Ber. Do- and for me; good night! Fio. Oh, not so soon- - with all these sad, dark thoughts,

These bitter memories. You need my

love :