That blessing yet! I have yet life enow
To trust that I shall live to see the day,
Albeit the number of my years well-nigh
Be full.

Ill-judging kindness! said the maid.
Have I not nursed for two long wretched years
That miserable hope, which every day
Grew weaker, like a baby sick to death,
Yet dearer for its weakness day by day!
No, never shall we see his daring bark!

I knew and felt it in the evil hour

When forth she fared! I felt it then! that kiss

Was our death parting! ... And she paused to curb The agony: anon, But thou hast been

..

To learn their tidings, Urien? He replied,

In half-articulate voice,.. They said, my child, That Madoc lived... that soon he would be here.

She had received the shock of happiness:

Urien! she cried thou art not mocking me!

...

Nothing the old man spake, but spread his arms Sobbing aloud. Goervyl from their hold

Started, and sunk upon her brother's breast.

Recovering first, the aged Urien said,
Enough of this, . . . there will be time for this,
My children! better it behoves ye now

To seek the king. And, Madoc, I beseech thee,
Bear with thy brother! gently bear with him,
My gentle prince! he is the headstrong slave
Of passions unsubdued; he feels no tie

Of kindly love, or blood; . . provoke him not,
Madoc ! It is his nature's malady.

...

Thou good old man! replied the prince, be sure I shall remember what to him is due,

What to myself; for I was in my youth

Wisely and well trained up; nor yet hath time
Effaced the lore my foster-father taught..

Haste, haste! exclaimed Goervyl;

för her heart

Smote her in sudden terror at the thought

Of Yorwerth, and of Owen's broken house ; . . .
I dread his dark suspicions!

Not for me

Suffer that fear, my sister! quoth the prince.
Safe is the straight and open way I tread!

Nor hath God made the human heart so bad

That thou or I should have a danger there. So saying, they toward the palace gate Went on, ere yet Aberfraw had received The tidings of her wanderer's glad return.

II.

The Marriage Feast.

THE guests were seated at the festal board,
Green rushes strewed the floor; high in the hall
Was David; Emma, in her bridal robe,

In youth, in beauty, by her husband's side
Sate at the marriage feast. The monarch raised
His eyes, he saw the mariner approach;
Madoc! he cried; strong nature's impulses
Prevailed, and with a holy joy he met

His brother's warm embrace.

With that what peals

Of exultation shook Aberfraw's tower !

How then re-echoing rang the home of kings,
When from subdued Ocean, from the World
That he had first foreseen, he first had found,
Came her triumphant child! The mariners,

A happy band, enter the clamorous hall;

Friend greets with friend, and all are friends; one joy Fills with one common feeling every heart,

And strangers give and take the welcoming

Of hand and voice and eye. That boisterous joy At length allayed, the board was spread anew, Anew the horn was brimmed, the central hearth Built up anew for later revelries.

then,

Now to the ready feast! the seneschal
Duly below the pillars ranged the crew;
Toward the guest's most honourable seat
The king himself led his brave brother;
Eyeing the lovely Saxon as he spake,
Here, Madoc, see thy sister! thou hast been
Long absent, and our house hath felt the while
Sad diminution; but my arm at last

Hath rooted out rebellion from the land;

And I have stablished now our ancient house,

Grafting a scyon from the royal tree

Of England on the sceptre; so shall peace
Bless our dear country.

Long and happy years

Await my sovereigns! thus the chief replied, And long may our dear country rest in peace! Enough of sorrow hath our royal house Known in the field of battles,.. yet we reaped The harvest of renown.