"Nor there uproot one bright flower more:

"His guilt is done; his doom is o'er ;"But not the hell that I must prove.

"Ye are Italians, and ye know

"What vengeance is: though mine was slow "And sharp, it never could repay

"Half the fell plagues of that dread day; "Yet many such days have I borne

"Till madness hath itself outworn.

"There was on earth no judgement-seat "To which I might drag these, and call "For righteous doom; that bitter all "That to the wronged seems wholly sweet!

But the evil angels to whom 'twas given To smite them with the wrath of Heaven "Left the dear task to me :-'twas I

"To whom they sued-but for a grave—

"And got such mercy as they gave :

"Too great for them the bliss to die!

"Yon bridegroom, too, was with them when

"They bore Lorenza to the den

"Of murder, deaf to every cry.

"He was in youth's first sweetness then,

"And should have had a gentler mind,

"But that he sprung of ruthless kind,

"And with Alviano's blood was curst:

"This wrought, and made him love the worst. "With me to death he should have stood, "And spilled his brethren's dearest blood,

"Ere he had seen that helpless maid "Dragged forth to perish without aid. "As in their guilt he then partook,

"So all his coming hours shall be "Endured in that sepulchral nook,—

"Yes, there the chain is hung for thee: "Even where thy brothers withered, thou "Shalt fill the place allotted now!

He ceased: and, looking searchingly
Upon the man to whom he spoke,
He saw how all his soul awoke :

The quick fire gleamed in his rolling eye,
When trumpet-like those words had broke

The brain-sick bondage of mute awe,

With which before he heard and saw.

No more with grief alone he listens ;

Up starts he wildly from his seat,

As wrath's own heart-bred lightnings heat

His veins that seem too swoln to beat. In his raised hand a poniard glistens,

Clutched fast to do some bloody feat;

Wrath reddens o'er his cheek; his breast Quickly heaved with hot unrest,

And hurriedly he spake: "Brave lords

"And knights, why wear ye worthless swords? "How! is there here no valiant hand "That dares with me to wield a brand? "Will ye, unmoved, behold me torn

66 Away to this most loathsome den,
"Never to bless the morn again;
"Oh, am I yet forlorn ?"

Of those to whom he loudly called
A score of brave men quickly rose :
Each held a brandished blade.

With a defying outcry, those
Sprang forward undismayed;

The rest were then but more appalled,
Girt with a band of mightier foes
Whom yon dark leader swayed.

With unchanged hue, that chief stood there,
And steadfast look, as if he were

Unearthly, and had power to be
Deathless for ever; so stood he
Amid the threatening blades around,
As if he felt they could not wound;
Smiling in the fierce eyes of those
Who dared to call themselves his foes:

But in that smile was all unveiled

The horrid calmness of a heart,

At which the rashest darers quailed,
And shrunk unmanned apart.
Regarding all with glances cold,

Thus did he mock their power: "Behold,

"I flee not from your kindling rage!

"In sooth your noble hearts are bold; "But pause, ere this brief war ye wage: "One further step may downward lead

"To the deep slumber with the dead;
"And loth were I your groans should scare

"Yon bright assemblage of the fair.

"Back, fools!-should all that hear me, armed

"With tenfold lightnings, point them here,

"I turn not,-for my breast is charmed

"Even from the thought of fear.

"In very scorn, I turn away

"From swooping on so weak a prey.

""Tis mine to weed

yon

hated race

"Forth from the world; nor shall their place

"In the wide ways of life be found "Hereafter, and their name renowned "Shall be forgotten with their dust; "Even as my unknown lineage must. "For this hath fate long marked me out : "The task is sweet, and shall be wrought; "Not fiends shall daunt me to forbear, "Nor lack I hardy help-mates here." Strongly stamped he on the ground: At once the doors on either side, As with a storm, flew open wide, And, before that startling sound Could jar upon the ear again,

Close at his back were banded men,

An unblest brotherhood,

Who now await, with eager will

And ready weapons, to fulfil

The welcome work of blood.

These at their leader's beck will slay,
With quick unsparing hand,

All who shall dare to bar their way,

Or his bad power withstand.