It were too much for Lara to pass by

Such questions, so repeated fierce and high;[jw]

With look collected, but with accent cold,

More mildly firm than petulantly bold, 430

He turned, and met the inquisitorial tone—

"My name is Lara—when thine own is known,

Doubt not my fitting answer to requite

The unlooked for courtesy of such a knight.

'Tis Lara!—further wouldst thou mark or ask?

I shun no question, and I wear no mask."

"Thou shunn'st no question! Ponder—is there none

Thy heart must answer, though thine ear would shun?

And deem'st thou me unknown too? Gaze again!

At least thy memory was not given in vain. 440

Oh! never canst thou cancel half her debt—

Eternity forbids thee to forget."

With slow and searching glance upon his face

Grew Lara's eyes, but nothing there could trace

They knew, or chose to know—with dubious look

He deigned no answer, but his head he shook,

And half contemptuous turned to pass away;

But the stern stranger motioned him to stay.

"A word!—I charge thee stay, and answer here

To one, who, wert thou noble, were thy peer, 450

But as thou wast and art—nay, frown not, Lord,

If false, 'tis easy to disprove the word—

But as thou wast and art, on thee looks down,

Distrusts thy smiles, but shakes not at thy frown.

Art thou not he? whose deeds——"[jx]

"Whate'er I be,

Words wild as these, accusers like to thee,

I list no further; those with whom they weigh

May hear the rest, nor venture to gainsay

The wondrous tale no doubt thy tongue can tell,

Which thus begins so courteously and well. 460

Let Otho cherish here his polished guest,

To him my thanks and thoughts shall be expressed."

And here their wondering host hath interposed—

"Whate'er there be between you undisclosed,

This is no time nor fitting place to mar

The mirthful meeting with a wordy war.

If thou, Sir Ezzelin, hast aught to show

Which it befits Count Lara's ear to know,

To-morrow, here, or elsewhere, as may best

Beseem your mutual judgment, speak the rest; 470

I pledge myself for thee, as not unknown,

Though, like Count Lara, now returned alone

From other lands, almost a stranger grown;

And if from Lara's blood and gentle birth

I augur right of courage and of worth,

He will not that untainted line belie,

Nor aught that Knighthood may accord, deny."

"To-morrow be it," Ezzelin replied,

"And here our several worth and truth be tried;

I gage my life, my falchion to attest 480

My words, so may I mingle with the blest!"

What answers Lara? to its centre shrunk

His soul, in deep abstraction sudden sunk;

The words of many, and the eyes of all

That there were gathered, seemed on him to fall;

But his were silent, his appeared to stray

In far forgetfulness away—away—

Alas! that heedlessness of all around

Bespoke remembrance only too profound.