AVALON AND A BLACKBIRD 191 



story of it — she, the last human listener he would 

 ever have. 



Suddenly the torrent of speech is arrested; the 

 voice of the blackbird, "sweet and soft and peaceful," 

 comes to them out of the darkness. Hark! he cries 

 to her before vanishing for ever from her sight, 



I hear the dusky ouzel send a joyous greeting to the faithful, 

 My speech, my shape, are spectral — hush, woman, do not speak 

 to me! 



