They led him forth. The morning sun
Was shining wide o'er field and rill;
The glory of a day begun
Was in the sky, was on the hill,
Was in the wild bird's early trill.
His form was high, his cheek was fair,
The star of youth was on his brow,
The shadow of his falling hair
Was turning, in the early glow,
To the clear sunshine's rippling flow.
They led him forth. They bade him look
His very last upon the day,
And from his eyes the bandage took
One moment, that the morning's ray
Might bless him ere he passed away.
He looked around. He looked above,
On purple mount and tender sky,
Then turned and gazed on human love,
In sweet girl faces hurrying by,
And bowed his noble head to die.
When lo! from out the heaving throng
Behold a sudden form appear!
Ethereal as a dreaming song
Stealing through fragrant groves to cheer
The restless spirit of the ear.
A girlish form, so mystic bright,
The very guards were touched by fear
And trembled backward as the light
Of her pure glance fell on them, clear
As moonlight shimmering on the mere.
He shall not die, she said, and laid
Her woman's hand upon his breast,
Her bright smile glowing undismayed
From out her locks, as from the west
Looks forth a young star's joyful crest.
And such, the legend runs, her grace,
And such the power of her mien,
She seemed to fill the market-place
With sense of angel forms serene
And sound of harps that sang unseen.
He shall not die! and from the crowd
She led him forth, while heavenly awe
Fell on each wondering heart, and bowed
The head of every mortal there,
Filling the silence like a prayer.
She led him forth, and none might say
If earth or Heaven was in the power
Of that young maiden's love that day,
To still the passions of the hour
And baffle vengeance in its flower.
We only know they passed unharmed
By peasant's cot and noble's hall,
And, in their youth and beauty armed,
Sped scathless through the city's wall
And vanished from the sight of all.
