Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/81

He discovers his wife upon the terrace, where she has hid to watch for her lover“And who are you in hiding, who goes 'neath this late moon?”
“I am your true Dearvorgil, glad you are home thus soon.”
“No hour for wives to ramble; but wherefore do you weep?”
“With joy for your returning—I wandered in my sleep.”

She pretends she has walked in her sleep and is sad for a dream's sake.“Joy's tears are summer rain, Queen—your eyes are sad and red.”
“A dream of evil-boding, and that was all my dread.”
“What was the dream distressful that made your face so white?”
“I dreamt that storm and thunder surrounded you to-night.”

He tries to draw her into a confession, having seen the King of Leinster riding on a white charger.“My lady, storm and thunder ride on the near hill's side.”
“Then hasten into shelter!” the lady paled and cried.
“In from the lash of tempest I dare not turn to go,
Lest, coming up from Leinster, it might lay Ulster low.”

She will not understand him, and tries to draw him to her and into the castle.“My lord, the moon is waning, the dawn grows calm and clear,
There is no angry weather, and wherefore do you fear?”
“My lady, hush! the kern sees something on the way.”
“My lord, why listen to him?—I have such news to say.”

He does not listen and is full of anger. The kern says he sees a stranger on the highway.“Nay, I shall hear! be silent! O kern, what do you see?
If there's aught on the highroad, now quickly tell to me.”
“I see one by the pine-wood come on a charger white,
He seeks the shadow always, as though he fears the light.”