No More Learning

Lal. [Lalage] Jacinta! is it thou?

Jac. [Jacinta] (pertly. ) Yes, Ma'am, I'm here.

Lal. I did not know, Jacinta, you were in waiting.
Sit down! --Let not my presence trouble you--
Sit down! --for I am humble, most humble.

Jac. (aside. ) 'Tis time.
(Jacinta seats herself in a side-long manner upon the chair, resting her
elbows upon the back, and regarding her mistress with a contemptuous look.
Lalage continues to read. )

Lal. "It in another climate, so he said,
"Bore a bright golden flower, but not i' this soil! "
(pauses--turns over some leaves, and resumes)
"No lingering winters there, nor snow, nor shower--
"But Ocean ever to refresh mankind
"Breathes the shrill spirit of the western wind. "
O, beautiful! --most beautiful--how like
To what my fevered soul doth dream of Heaven!
O happy land (pauses) She died! --the maiden died!
A still more happy maiden who couldst die!
Jacinta!
(Jacinta returns no answer, and Lalage presently resumes. )
Again! --a similar tale
Told of a beauteous dame beyond the sea!
Thus speaketh one Ferdinand in the words of the play--
"She died full young"--one Bossola answers him--
"I think not so--her infelicity
"Seemed to have years too many"--Ah luckless lady!
Jacinta! (still no answer)

Here 's a far sterner story,
But like--oh, very like in its despair--
Of that Egyptian queen, winning so easily
A thousand hearts--losing at length her own.