es the old man again; and then
exit._]

_Both Choruses_. Now will I say that children add to life a glory not
belonging to it; and a pang beyond the pain of this world.

In them is pain; in their birth, danger; and in their tender years, a
care; thereafter, sorrow or joy, too keen, too keen, too poignant, too
sharp,--cutting the heart in twain.

Happy are they who know it not. Happy are the childless; for the great
sufferings are kept from them. Blessed are they: I will praise and
envy them always.

_Arnold_. Now is my burden lightened.
One adieu,--
The worst, remains; and then,--I know not what,--some relaxation
Or sweetness of the grave.
[_To_ Mrs. Arnold.] Good-bye, great soul;
I leave thee sorrows, many-pointed cares,
The stress of growing sons and straightening means;
Yet one great blackness passes from your life,
Unshadowing you all. I see ye stand
Safe in the port,--as on a margent shore
Clustered in sunlight,--while my bark moves on.
I am not of ye; I am far away
And long ago; one of those Argonauts
That in the western seas, with sturdy oar,
Urging their venturesome and sacred bark,
Steered a new course,--a band, a brotherhood,--
And, though a Judas, I was one of them.
Get me my uniform. I wore it last
On that last day on which my sun went down.
And I, descending now to seek the sun,
Must put it on.

_Mrs. Arnold_. Dear Benedict, your uniform?
You have it on.

_Arnold_. No, no! not this, not this!
Ring; call a servant!

_Mrs. Arnold_. [_Rings. To servant._]
Whate'er he asks for, get it quickly for him,
But make no questions.

[Arnold _speaks to servant in dumb-show. Exit servant._]

_Arnold_. The very coat I did the treason in,
By accident preserved, and then,--and then--
I could not cast it off: it clung to me--
Waiting this day. It lay there like a dog,
Patient against a master's drunkenness,
Watching his face.

[_Enter servant with the coat of the American uniform, and the
sword-knots._]

Thou one unbroken link with all the men
I walked with on the mountain heights of youth,
When glory shone, and trumpets heralded,
And drums were rolling! We were patriots then,
Warren, and Putnam, Lincoln, Knox, and Schuyler,
Morgan, and Stark, Montgomery, Sullivan--
And scores of faces burnished by the winds,
That shone with glory--

[_He takes off the coat of his British uniform, the servant assisti