Thus he fretted his soul vainly, on the rocks of hard misfortune—
Thus he lashed his foaming spirit, till it seethed like any sea;
Till one treading soft behind him, gently spoke, "Let me importune
You, sir duke, to speak more calmly, and with some less energy."
"Ha! a listener! who are you, sir, that have dared to track me hither.
Or presumed to give me counsel as to what way I should speak?"
"You have misconstrued my manner, sir," the stranger said, "and neither
Can I tell you my name or title; but your audience I seek,
On a matter of some moment to us both—to you more truly—
And I pray you do not check me by a word till I have done;
For my time is very precious, and I have arrived but newly,
And must be upon my homeward way before to-morrow sun.
"Here's a debt I owed your father—sums extorted in the trouble
Of the civil wars that ruined many a house of noble blood;
Here, I make you restitution; it were well if it were double.
As it is, there are some millions; may they do you service good!"
Then the gold he paid down quickly, while his auditor stood gazing,
Like one spellbound, on this magic wealth, and on this strange magician—
Gazing eagerly, yet deeming that the princely jewels blazing
In his grasp were but a dream, and not his wishes' full fruition.
So before his thanks were uttered, or his stupor wholly banished,
In such silence as he came to him the stranger hurried thence,
And the noble's grateful blessing was not spoken ere had vanished
Every trace of how his sudden wealth had come, or even whence.
"Oh! my brain, if you have mocked me—oh! my soul, if you are dreaming—
Never let me waken, Heaven! let the happy madness last;
Let my glittering fancies fool me, for I swear this present seeming
Is a glory and a triumph to the anguish of the past!"
