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ALICE.
11
But when, after long travel, he brought home
A lovely lady and two cherub babes,
Seemed not a wiser or a better man.
A lovely lady and two cherub babes,
Seemed not a wiser or a better man.
Henry.And she?
Mrs. Neville.She was a thing of life, and light,
And beauty. Such a vision as erst filled
The dreamy soul of Guido, when he drew
His bright Aurora. Such a brilliant flush
Of health, and joy, and youth—eternal youth!
Year after year rolled on, and stole no charm,
No smile from that fair woman. Strangers saw her
Propped on her son's supporting arm, or throwing
Her white hand round her daughter's waist, and deemed
She was their younger sister. Oh, how proud
That noble son was of her peerless grace!
With what a sweet and tender flattery
He spake, and with what smiling blushes she
Would listen! 'Twas a house of love. The daughter———
And beauty. Such a vision as erst filled
The dreamy soul of Guido, when he drew
His bright Aurora. Such a brilliant flush
Of health, and joy, and youth—eternal youth!
Year after year rolled on, and stole no charm,
No smile from that fair woman. Strangers saw her
Propped on her son's supporting arm, or throwing
Her white hand round her daughter's waist, and deemed
She was their younger sister. Oh, how proud
That noble son was of her peerless grace!
With what a sweet and tender flattery
He spake, and with what smiling blushes she
Would listen! 'Twas a house of love. The daughter———
Henry.Was she not like thy Alice?
Mrs. Neville.Ay, as like
As two white roses. Thou canst scarce have seen
The Lady Claremont? thou art all too young.
As two white roses. Thou canst scarce have seen
The Lady Claremont? thou art all too young.
Henry.I've seen her portrait, where young purity
Is pictured to the life. She sits upon
A rock, by the sea-shore, her starry eyes
Fixed on the gloomy sky, as if to wait
The raging of the storm
Is pictured to the life. She sits upon
A rock, by the sea-shore, her starry eyes
Fixed on the gloomy sky, as if to wait
The raging of the storm