第23章 HOMEWARD BOUND(2)

You have heard in a far country Of a self-devoted band,Vowed to rescue Christian captives Pining in a foreign land.

And these gentle-hearted strangers Year by year go forth from Rome,In their hands the hard-earned ransom,To restore some exiles home.

I was freed:they broke the tidings Gently to me:but indeed Hour by hour sped on,I knew not What the words meant--I was freed!

Better so,perhaps;while sorrow (More akin to earthly things)Only strains the sad heart's fibres -

Joy,bright stranger,breaks the strings.

Yet at last it rushed upon me,And my heart beat full and fast;What were now my years of waiting,What was all the dreary past?

Nothing--to the impatient throbbing I must bear across the sea:

Nothing--to the eternal hours Still between my home and me!

How the voyage passed,I know not;

Strange it was once more to stand With my countrymen around me,And to clasp an English hand.

But,through all,my heart was dreaming Of the first words I should hear,In the gentle voice that echoed,Fresh as ever,on my ear.

Should I see her start of wonder,And the sudden truth arise,Flushing all her face and lightening The dimmed splendour of her eyes?

Oh!to watch the fear and doubting Stir the silent depths of pain,And the rush of joy--then melting Into perfect peace again.

And the child!--but why remember Foolish fancies that I thought?

Every tree and every hedge-row From the well-known past I brought:

I would picture my dear cottage,See the crackling wood-fire burn,And the two beside it seated,Watching,waiting,my return.

So,at last we reached the harbour.

I remember nothing more Till I stood,my sick heart throbbing,With my hand upon the door.

There I paused--I heard her speaking;

Low,soft,murmuring words she said;

Then I first knew the dumb terror I had had,lest she were dead.

It was evening in late autumn,And the gusty wind blew chill;Autumn leaves were falling round me,And the red sun lit the hill.

Six-and-twenty years are vanished Since then--I am old and grey,But I never told to mortal What I saw,until this day.

She was seated by the fire,In her arms she held a child,Whispering baby-words caressing,And then,looking up,she smiled:

Smiled on him who stood beside her -

Oh!the bitter truth was told,In her look of trusting fondness -I had seen the look of old!

But she rose and turned towards me (Cold and dumb I waited there)With a shriek of fear and terror,And a white face of despair.

He had been an ancient comrade -

Not a single word we said,While we gazed upon each other,He the living:I the dead!

I drew nearer,nearer to her,And I took her trembling hand,Looking on her white face,looking That her heart might understand All the love and all the pity That my lips refused to say -I thank God no thought save sorrow Rose in our crushed hearts that day.

Bitter tears that desolate moment,Bitter,bitter tears we wept,We three broken hearts together,While the baby smiled and slept.

Tears alone--no words were spoken,Till he--till her husband said That my boy,(I had forgotten The poor child,)that he was dead.

Then at last I rose,and,turning,Wrung his hand,but made no sign;And I stooped and kissed her forehead Once more,as if she were mine.

Nothing of farewell I uttered,Save in broken words to pray That God would ever guard and bless her -Then in silence passed away.

Over the great restless ocean Six-and-twenty years I roam;All my comrades,old and weary,Have gone back to die at home.-Home!yes,I shall reach a haven,I,too,shall reach home and rest;I shall find her waiting for me With our baby on her breast.