Denzil place a story in verse. By Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] |
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| II. |
| III. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
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| VII. |
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| IX. |
| X. |
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 | Denzil place |  |
(There was a tinge in this, her argument
Of Geoffrey Denzil's subtler sophistry,
A few short years ago she had not dared
To speak thus boldly upon sacred things.)
Her words were in Italian, but the Nun
Answer'd her sadly in the English tongue—
“Dear lady, I am English, let us speak
“The language of the country I regret
“And fain would see again before I die.
“When two sad women, in a foreign land
“Led by the sacred sympathy of grief
“Thus seek companionship, and hope to find
“Not only this, but maybe friendship too,
“What need to deal in useless mysteries
“Or make concealments?”
Of Geoffrey Denzil's subtler sophistry,
A few short years ago she had not dared
To speak thus boldly upon sacred things.)
Her words were in Italian, but the Nun
Answer'd her sadly in the English tongue—
“Dear lady, I am English, let us speak
“The language of the country I regret
“And fain would see again before I die.
“When two sad women, in a foreign land
“Led by the sacred sympathy of grief
“Thus seek companionship, and hope to find
“Not only this, but maybe friendship too,
“What need to deal in useless mysteries
“Or make concealments?”
Constance smiled, and said,
“You must have wonder'd at my awkward words
“Of bad Italian! May I ask you why
“You left our native island? Do not heed
“My idle questions should they give you pain.”
“You must have wonder'd at my awkward words
“Of bad Italian! May I ask you why
147
“My idle questions should they give you pain.”
| Denzil place | |