320
CONSTANTINE PALEOLOGUS;
ELLA.
She leads thee, fights for thee, and guards thy head
From ev'ry foe-man's stroke.
RODRIGO.
Of him we spoke?
ELLA.
OTHUS.
To fates foretold or mystic sages gives.
RODRIGO.
Small dealings have with learn'd sorcery;
Nor bead, nor book, nor ring, nor mutter'd rhymes,
Are for our turn: but on the sea-rock's point,
In shape of hern, or gull, or carrion bird,
Our unfeed wizards sit, and, with stretch'd throats,
Speak strange mysterious things to wave-toss'd men,
With many perils compass'd. Nay, oftimes
The mermaid, seated on her coral stool,
Spreading her yellow hair to the sunn'd breeze,
Will sing a song of future fortunes fair
To him who has the luck to meet with her:
And ev'n the nightly winds will thro' our shrouds