And smiling welcome, fairer scarce was none,
That noble knight Natalia’s husband stood,
A gentle man whom of a truth in life,
Alas for jealous youth and wit too keen!
Adrian loved little though he loved his wife,
But now beheld as the most blest of men,–
Because Natalia was not dead, he thought,
Seeing him thus unconscious of all grief,–
And in that cloudless face where pain was not
Adrian found omen to his soul’s relief,
And looked beyond if haply he should see
Her face too following fixed in constancy.