98
Sometimes indeed he feigned an angrier start,
But still relapsed, and played his former part.
"What!" cried Giovanni, who grew still more fierce,
"Fighting in sport? Playing your cart and tierce?"
"Not so, my prince," said Paulo; "have a care
"How you think so, or I shall wound you there."
He stamped, and watching as he spoke the word,
Drove, with his breast, full on his brother's sword.
'Twas done. He staggered, and in falling prest
Giovanni's foot with his right hand and breast:
Then on his elbow turned, and raising t'other,
He smiled, and said, "No fault of yours, my brother;
"An accident—a slip—the finishing one
"To errors by that poor old man begun.
"You'll not—you'll not"—his heart leaped on before,
And choaked his utterance; but he smiled once more,
For, as his hand grew lax, he felt it prest;—
And so, his dim eyes sliding into rest,
But still relapsed, and played his former part.
"What!" cried Giovanni, who grew still more fierce,
"Fighting in sport? Playing your cart and tierce?"
"Not so, my prince," said Paulo; "have a care
"How you think so, or I shall wound you there."
He stamped, and watching as he spoke the word,
Drove, with his breast, full on his brother's sword.
'Twas done. He staggered, and in falling prest
Giovanni's foot with his right hand and breast:
Then on his elbow turned, and raising t'other,
He smiled, and said, "No fault of yours, my brother;
"An accident—a slip—the finishing one
"To errors by that poor old man begun.
"You'll not—you'll not"—his heart leaped on before,
And choaked his utterance; but he smiled once more,
For, as his hand grew lax, he felt it prest;—
And so, his dim eyes sliding into rest,
