right . . .
For as the weakness of my time drew nigh,
Nobody did me one disservice more,
Spoke coldly or looked strangely, broke the love
I lay in the arms of, till my boy was born,
Born all in love, with nought to spoil the bliss
A whole long fortnight: in a life like mine
A fortnight filled with bliss is long and much."

For, thinking of her happy childhood before the marriage, already she
has said that only that childhood, and the prayer that brought her
Caponsacchi, and the "great fortnight" remain as real: the four bad
years between

"Vanish--one quarter of my life, you know."

In that room in the inn they parted. They were borne off to separate
cells of the same ignoble prison, and, separate, thence to Rome.

"Pompilia's face, then and thus, looked on me
The last time in this life: not one sight more,
Never another sight to be! And yet
I thought I had saved her . . .
It seems I simply sent her to her death.
You tell me she is dying now, or dead."

But then it flashes to his mind that this may be a trick to make him
confess--it would be worthy of them; and the great cry breaks forth:

"No, Sirs, I cannot have the lady dead!
That erect form, flashing brow, fulgurant eye,
That voice immortal (oh, that voice of hers!)
That vision in the blood-red daybreak--that
Leap to life of the pale electric sword
Angels go armed with--that was not the last
O' the lady! Come, I see through it, you find--
Know the manoeuvre! . . .
Let me see for myself if it be so!"

* * * * *

But it is true. Twenty-two dagger-thrusts--

"Two days ago, when Guido, with the right,
Hacked her to pieces" . . .

Oh, should they not have seen at first? That very flight proved the
innocence of the pair who thus fled: these judges should have recognised
the accepted man, the exceptional conduct that rightly claims to be
judged by exceptional rules. . . . But it is all over. She is
dying--dead perhaps. He has done with being judged--he is guiltless in
thought, word, and deed; and she . . .

". . . For Pompilia--be advised,
Build churches, go pray! You will find me there,
I know, if you come--and you will come, I know.
Why, there's a judge weeping! Did not I say
You were good and true at bottom? You see the truth--
I am glad I helped you: s