XL.

Yes! thou hadst follow’d me through fear and flight! Thou wouldst have follow’d had my pathway led E’en to the scaffold; had the flashing light Of the raised axe made strong men shrink with dread, Thou, midst the hush of thousands, wouldst have been With thy clasp’d hands beside me kneeling seen, And meekly bowing to the shame thy head-- The shame!--oh! making beautiful to view The might of human love--fair thing! so bravely true!