ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. 
445 
XII. 
And who knows (I sometimes wondered), 
If the disembodied soul 
Of old Hector, once of Troy, 
Might not take a dreary joy 
Here to enter, if it thundered, 
Rolling up the thunder-roll? 
XIII. 
Rolling this way, from Troy-ruin, 
In this body rude and rife, 
He might enter, and take rest 
’Neath the daisies of the breast— 
They, with tender roots, renewing 
His heroic heart to life. 
XIV. 
Who could know ? I sometimes started 
At a motion or a sound ! 
Hid his mouth speak, naming Troy, 
With an OTTOTTOTTOTTOL ? 
Did the pulse of the Strong-hearted 
Make the daisies tremble round? 
xv. 
It was hard to answer, often: 
But the birds sang in the tree— 
But the little birds sang bold, 
In the pear-tree green and old ; 
And my terror seemed to soften, 
Through the courage of their glee. 
