446 
rt 
THE STAKE. 
With a meaning I well knew. 
“© Clemence !” its low under tone, 
Drowning all those sounds of hell, 
Deep into my heart alone 
Like unearthly echoes fell, 
Bidding its tornado sleep, 
As a word once hush’d the deep : 
And I folded on my breast 
The cold hands that shook and shiver’d, 
And to calmness I compress’d 
Firmly the shut lips that quiver’d ; 
And before the high control 
That had strung my inmost soul, 
With a strength no voice could draw 
From its fathomless abyss, 
Save the one whose thrilling awe 
Held me in an hour like this ; 
Even as it had laid to sleep, 
Far in its recesses deep, 
All proud thoughts and selfish-hearted 
In the happier days departed : 
To all round me, lost and gone, 
Breathlessly I listened on. 
I would wander the world over, 
An untired, unresting rover ; 
I would meet all weariness, 
Pain, and peril, and distress, 
Lightly, gladly, I would brave, 
All that dwells in wind or wave ; 
Aught, each, all, I would sustain, 
Once to hear that voice again. 
Calm I stood as stands the sail 
Waiting for the lagging gale ; 
Calm as is the heavy air 
Ere the lightning flasheth there: 
And I watch’d the wreathéd fire 
Towering higher, higher, higher ; 
And I look’d into his face 
Till I look’d on vacant space ; 
And I saw the last faint ray 
From his deep eye pass away : 
