Sobbing she spoke as if but half awake,
Her eyes far-fixed beyond me, far beyond
All hope of mine.--So! it was for _his_ sake,
_His_ love, that she had suffered!... Blind and fond,
For what return!... And I--to nurse a snake,
And never dream its nature would respond
With some such fang of venom! 'Twas for this
That I had ventured all--to find her his!