Then in the dawn a dark shadow flew from the cave, and sped across the blue, and came to the little vale, where Eileen lay dying, as he had seen her in the vision in the “haggard woman’s” cavern.
“Then Cedric sprang, and cried, ‘My love! Eileen!’ And Eileen heard him not; nor knew he wept.-- For mighty sorrow burst from out his heart, And flooded all his being, and he sunk, And moaned: ‘Eileen, I love thee! Yea, I love, And loved thee ever; and I can not think That I shall never gaze upon thee more. My life for thine--ah, that were naught to give, Meant not the gift to see thee nevermore! Never to hear thy voice. Nay, nay, Eileen, Gaze on me, speak to me, give me but one word, And I will go and never more return.’ But Eileen answered not; he touched her hand, And she felt nothing. Then he whispered, low, ‘Oh, may God keep thee--for it must be done-- Guard thee, and bless thee, thou my soul’s delight! And when thou waken’st, wilt thou think of me, Of Cedric, him that loved thee, oh so true? Nay, for they said thou shouldst no sorrow know, And that would be a sorrow, yea, it would. And must thou then forget me, thou my love? And canst not give me but one single word, To tell me that I do not die in vain? Gaze at me, Eileen, see, thy love is here, Here as of old, above thee stooping light, To press a kiss upon thy tender lips.-- Ah, I can kiss thee--kiss thee, my Eileen, Kiss as of yore, with all my passion’s woe!’ And as he spoke he pressed her to his heart, Long, long, with yearning, and he felt the leap Of molten metal through his throbbing veins; His eyes shot fire, and anguish racked his limbs, And he fell back, and reeled, and clutched his brow. An instant only gazed he on her face, And saw new life within her gray cheek leap, And her dark eyelids tremble. Then with moan, And fearful struggle, swift he fled away, That she might nothing of his strife perceive. And then, reminded of his gift of flight, He started from the earth, and beat aloft, Each sweep of his great wings a torture-stroke Upon his fainting heart. And thus away, With languid flight he moved, and Eileen, raised In new-born joy from off her couch of pain, Saw a strange bird into the distance fade.”