Page:A Tale of the Secret Tribunal.pdf/26

One look she cast, where firmness strove
With the deep pangs of parting love;
One tear a moment in her eye
Dimm'd the pure light of constancy;
And pressing, as to still her heart,
She tum'd in silence to depart.
But Ulric, as to phrenzy wrought,
Then started from his trance of thought:
"Stay thee, oh! stay—it must not be—
All, all were well resign'd for thee!
Stay! till my soul each vow disown,
But those which make me thine alone!
If there be guilt—there is no shrine
More holy than that heart of thine;
There be my crime absolv'd—I take
The cup of shame for thy dear sake.
Of shame! oh no! to virtue true,
Where thou art, there is glory too!
Go now! and to thy sire impart,
He hath a shield in Ulric’s heart,
And thou a home!—remain, or flee,
In life, in death—I follow Thee!"

"There shall not rest one cloud of shame,
Oh Ulric! on thy lofty name;
There shall not one accusing word
Against thy spotless faith he heard!
Thy path is where the brave rush on,
Thy course must be where palms are won;
Where banners wave, and falchions glare,
Son of the mighty! be thou there!