Which thro' the bare and rifted rock had forced
Its twisted trunk, the berries cheerful red

Starring its gloomy green. Her pleasant home
She saw, and those who made that home so dear,
Her loved lost friends. The mingled feelings fill'd
Her eyes, when from behind a voice was heard,
"O Lady! canst thou tell me where to find

"The Maid whom Heaven hath sent to rescue France?"

Thrill'd by the well-known tones, she started up,
And fell upon the neck of Theodore.

"Have I then found thee!" cried the impassion'd

youth;

"Henceforth we part no more, but where thou goest, "Thither go I. Beloved! in the front

"Of battle thou shalt find me at thy side;

"And in the breach this breast shall be thy shield "And rampart. Oh, ungenerous! why from me "Conceal the inspiration? why from me

"Hide thy miraculous purpose? Am I then

"So all-unworthy that thou shouldst set forth

"Beneath another's guidance?"

Thus he cried,

Mingling reproach with tenderness, yet still
Clasping with warm embrace the Maid belov'd.
She, of her bidding and futurity

Awhile forgetful, patient of the embrace,

With silent tears of joy bedew'd his neck.

At length,-"I hope," she cried, "thou art not come "With heavier fault and breach of nearer tie!

"How did thy mother spare thee,... thou alone
"The stay and comfort of her widow'd age?
"Did she upon thy parting steps bestow

"Her free-will blessing, or hast thou set forth,
"Which Heaven forbid, unlicensed, and unblest ?"

“Oh, surely not unblest!" the youth replied: Yet conscious of his unrepented fault,

With countenance flush'd, and faltering in reply: "She wept at my departure, she would fain "Have turn'd me from my purpose, and my heart

Perhaps had fail'd me, if it had not glow'd "With ardour like thine own; the sacred fire

"With which thy bosom burns had kindled me: "High in prophetic hope, I bade her place "Her trust in Heaven; I bade her look to hear "Good tidings soon of glorious victory :

"I told her I should soon return, ...return "With thee, and thou wouldst be to her old age "What Madelon had been."

As thus he spake,

Warm with the imaginary bliss, he clasp'd
The dear one closer to his yearning heart.
But the devoted Virgin in his arms

Started and shudder'd, for the flaming pile
Flash'd on remembrance now, and on her soul
The whole terrific vision rose again.

A death-like paleness at the dreadful thought
Wither'd her cheek; the sweat suffused her brow,
And, falling on the neck of Theodore,

Feeble and faint she hung. His eager eye

Concentring all the anguish of the soul,

And strain'd in anxious love, gazed fearfully
With wondering anguish; till the ennobling thought
Of her high mission roused her, and her soul

Collected, and she spake.

"My Theodore,

"Thou hast done ill to quit thy mother's home! "Alone and aged she will weep for thee,

66

Wasting the little that is left of life

"In anguish. Now go back again to Arc,

"And cheer her wintry hours of widowhood,

"And love my memory there."

Swift he exclaim'd,

Nay, Maid! the pang of parting is o'erpast, "And Elinor looks on to the glad hour

"When we shall both return. Amid the war

"How many an arm will seek thy single life,

"How many a sword and spear..
...I will

"And spread the guardian shield!"

go

with thee

"Nay," she replied,

"I shall not need thy succour in the war.
"Me Heaven, if so seem good to its high will,
"Will save. I shall be happier, Theodore,
Thinking that thou dost sojourn safe at home,
"And make thy mother happy."

The youth's cheek

A rapid blush disorder'd.

"Oh! the court

"Is pleasant, and thy soul would fain forget

"A humble villager, who only boasts

"The treasure of the heart!"

She look'd at him

With the reproaching eye of tenderness :

Injurious man! Devoted for this realm,

"I go a willing victim. The dark veil

"Hath been for me withdrawn, these eyes "The fearful features of Futurity.

beheld

"Yes, Theodore, I shall redeem my country, "Abandoning for this the joys of life,

"Yea, life itself!" Then on his neck she fell,

And with a faltering voice, "Return to Arc!