Constance and Martuccio
And as she 'gan to pray and weep
A quiet fell on sea and sky,
The rough waves cradled her to sleep.
The north-wind sang her lullaby,
And all the stars came out to see
That she was sleeping peacefully,
Who slept all night, all day, until the night grew nigh.
*****
At morning Prince Martuccio
Looked out across the southern sea
That shipwreck'd him a year ago—
He who was once our enemy.
Who now is grown beloved and great,
Who saved the King and saved the State,
Who reigns the proudest prince in Barbary.
And he is great and young and rich,
Yet often by the sea he stands.
As though his straining eyes would reach
The secrets of imagined lands.
And thus he saw a little craft.
And watched the gentle breezes waft
It slowly on towards the Moorish sands.
As wanderers where no water is.
With blackened tongue and aching throat,
Finding a fruit-tree, full of bliss
Strip it of its desired load.
And ask not, is it good or bad
Or poison-sweet to send men mad :
So yearned Martuccio towards the little boat.
And knowing not wherefore he yearned.
He watched it while it came his way,
And felt not how the hot sun burned
Nor any drenching of the spray.
At last, when noon-day heat was o'er
The boat struck sharp against the shore,
Martuccio stept therein—where something lay.
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