anger was to dread: but, dying now--
Himself would hardly become talkative,
Since talk no more means torture. Fools--what fools
These wicked men are! Had I borne four years,
Four years of weeks and months and days and nights,
Inured me to the consciousness of life
Coiled round by his life, with the tongue to ply,--
But that I bore about me, for prompt use
At urgent need, the thing that '_stops the mouth_'
And stays the venom? Since such need was now
Or never,--how should use not follow need?
Bear witness for me, I withdraw from life
By virtue of the license--warrant, say,
That blackens yet this Album--white again,
Thanks still to my one friend who tears the page!
Now, let me write the line of supplement,
As counselled by my foe there: '_each a line_!'"

And she does falteringly write to end.

"_I die now through the villain who lies dead,
Righteously slain. He would have outraged me,
So, my defender slew him. God protect
The right! Where wrong lay, I bear witness now.
Let man believe me, whose last breath is spent
In blessing my defender from my soul!_"

And so ends the Inn Album.

As she dies,
Begins outside a voice that sounds like song,
And is indeed half song though meant for speech
Muttered in time to motion--stir of heart
That unsubduably must bubble forth
To match the fawn-step as it mounts the stair.

"All's ended and all's over! Verdict found
'_Not guilty_'--prisoner forthwith set free,
Mid cheers the Court pretends to disregard!
Now Portia, now for Daniel, late severe,
At last appeased, benignant! '_This young man--
Hem--has the young man's foibles but no fault.
He's virgin soil--a friend must cultivate.
I think no plant called "love" grows wild--a friend
May introduce, and name the bloom, the fruit!_'
Here somebody dares wave a handkerchief--
She'll want to hide her face with presently!
Good-by then! '_Cigno fedel, cigno fedel,
Addio!_' Now, was ever such mistake--
Ever such foolish ugly omen? Pshaw!
Wagner, beside! '_Amo te solo, te
Solo amai!_' That's worth fifty such!
But, mum, the grave face at the opened door!"

And so the good gay girl, with eyes and cheeks
Diamond and damask,--cheeks so white erewhile
Because of a vague fancy, idle fear
Chased on reflection