"And dost thou suffer, my
brother?
Elizabeth Browning
how shall I thank thee for all?
XIX.
"Each of the heroes around us has fought for his land and line,
But thou hast fought for a stranger, in hate of a wrong not thine.
XX.
"Happy are all free peoples, too strong to be dispossessed.
But blessed are those among nations who dare to be strong for the
rest! "
XXI.
Ever she passed on her way, and came to a couch where pined
One with a face from Venetia, white with a hope out of mind.
XXII.
Long she stood and gazed, and twice she tried at the name,
But two great crystal tears were all that faltered and came.
XXIII.
Only a tear for Venice? --she turned as in passion and loss,
And stooped to his forehead and kissed it, as if she were kissing
the cross.
XXIV.
Faint with that strain of heart she moved on then to another,
Stern and strong in his death.
"And dost thou suffer, my brother? "
XXV.
Holding his hands in hers:--"Out of the Piedmont lion
Cometh the sweetness of freedom! sweetest to live or to die on. "
XXVI.
Holding his cold rough hands,--"Well, oh well have ye done
In noble, noble Piedmont, who would not be noble alone. "
XXVII.
Back he fell while she spoke. She rose to her feet with a spring,--
"That was a Piedmontese! and this is the Court of the King. "
AN AUGUST VOICE.
"Una voce augusta. "--_Monitore Toscano_.
I.
You'll take back your Grand-duke?
I made the treaty upon it.
XIX.
"Each of the heroes around us has fought for his land and line,
But thou hast fought for a stranger, in hate of a wrong not thine.
XX.
"Happy are all free peoples, too strong to be dispossessed.
But blessed are those among nations who dare to be strong for the
rest! "
XXI.
Ever she passed on her way, and came to a couch where pined
One with a face from Venetia, white with a hope out of mind.
XXII.
Long she stood and gazed, and twice she tried at the name,
But two great crystal tears were all that faltered and came.
XXIII.
Only a tear for Venice? --she turned as in passion and loss,
And stooped to his forehead and kissed it, as if she were kissing
the cross.
XXIV.
Faint with that strain of heart she moved on then to another,
Stern and strong in his death.
"And dost thou suffer, my brother? "
XXV.
Holding his hands in hers:--"Out of the Piedmont lion
Cometh the sweetness of freedom! sweetest to live or to die on. "
XXVI.
Holding his cold rough hands,--"Well, oh well have ye done
In noble, noble Piedmont, who would not be noble alone. "
XXVII.
Back he fell while she spoke. She rose to her feet with a spring,--
"That was a Piedmontese! and this is the Court of the King. "
AN AUGUST VOICE.
"Una voce augusta. "--_Monitore Toscano_.
I.
You'll take back your Grand-duke?
I made the treaty upon it.
