Say there is another for whom you would die; save me."
"Nay, but one—forgive me, liege Lady, but one; she cannot be mine—she is lost for ever to me."
"I pity you," said the Queen, tears rushing to her eyes.
"Is she wedded—that false one, is she wedded?"
Yes, oh yes, but she was not false; I did not dare to tell my love. I kneeled and prayed for strength to wish her happiness. I have asked it for her, but she knows it not."
"Were your situations in life equal?" said the Queen.
"No!" he answered, "she was far above me—too good—too beautiful for me."
"Ah! Had she not been wed, I could have given you rank and wealth equal to hers and bestowed her on you; should you have been happy?"
Lady, she did not and could not love me; judge my feelings when, unrepentantly, she gave her hand to another. Lady, you do not know my misery."
"How canst thou tell that?" said the Queen, her cheeks turning lividly white at the warmth with which he spoke. "If youth were exempt from trials, how could we feel for others' sorrows? If I had none of my own, I could not this night weep with you.
"Trials, Lady!" said the Ambassador.
"Yes, bitter trials—very bitter; but it is not meet thus to explain the secrets of my heart; let me bid you be happy, and, for ever, farewell."
"For ever, farewell! Why? Dear Lady, why? Say, In what way have I offended you? Forgive me. I implore you, part not in anger with me, turn and look kindly on me again."and the kneeling Ambassador caught the bottom of her robe. "Believe me, I had not dared to tell you of my love, but when you spoke so kindly to me and you told me of wealth and fame, what was worth living for when I was losing you?"
Oh, my God, have mercy; he returns my love! Protect me, pity me, weak, sinful that I am;--I, whose heart is his, how can I meet his sovereign?" Saying which, the Queen fell prostrate to the earth, supported by the Ambassador. "Leave me, leave me," she said when she opened her eyes. "Leave me alone, now; but, oh, do not breathe to a single soul my weak confession of tonight."
"Never-never. It would be an insult to stay and oppress you with professions of love you may not return. I have caused you this unhappiness, but do not reproach me; spare me; for your anger I cannot bear. Keep this as a memorial of one who loved you, one who must ever love you—my first, my last love, farewell."
The Queen gazed at the picture given to her, and drawing from her bosom, a cross was placed in the hand of the Ambassador. He pressed the hand that offered it to his lips, and rushing through the corridor, he returned no more. On arriving with the youthful bride at the court of Germany, he threw up his diplomatic engagement and quit the court for ever, but after the night of their mutual confession, he never saw the Queen. She lived but a few months and died gazing at the picture of her heart's idol.
Of the Ambassador, little is known, save that a monk of the order of La Trappe requested, when dying, that masses might be said regularly for his soul and the soul of her who presented to him that small fillagree cross.
___
LILIAN.
BY ALFRED TENNYSON.
AIRY, fairy Lilian,
Flitting, fairy Lilian,
When I ask her if she love me,
Claps her tiny hands above me,
Laughing all she can ;
She'll not tell me if she love me,
Cruel little Lilian.
When my passion seeks
Pleasance in love-sighs,
She, looking through and through me,
Thoroughly to undo me,
Smiling, never speaks ;
So innocent-arch, so cunning- simple,
From beneath her purpled wimple,
Glancing with black-beaded eyes
Till the lightning laughters dimple,
The baby roses in her cheeks,
Then away she flies.
Prythee weep, my Lilian!
Gaiety without eclipse
Wearieth me, May Lilian;
Through my very heart it thrilleth
When from crimson threaded lips
Silver treble laughter thrilleth;
Prythee weep, May Lilian.
Praying all I can,
If prayers will not hush thee,
Airy Lilian,
Like a rose-leaf I will crush thee,
Fairy Lilian.
___
THE flower beheld the star above,
And longed to reach its airy love,
But longed in vain. A dew-drop fell
Into the soft and fragrant bell,
And then the star was imaged there,
As if it dropt from upper air;
And gliding down from Heaven had come,
To find on Earth, a kindred home. STIRLING.
