From all mankind and known to none,

And for Nahina's coming waited.

Nor did he, reader, wait in vain:

For here she is, the ancient dame!

A solemn hour. "You know me, stalwart,"

She says to him. "Now mount, and forward!

Come after me." And lo!-wdth that

She turns herself into a cat,

And then, the charger saddled, races

Off and away. She's followed by

Farlaf on horseback. Through the mazes

Of gloomy forests their paths lie.

Clad in night's haze that never lifted,

The vale lay tranquil, slumber-bound,

And, veiled in mist, the pale moon drifted

From cloud to cloud and lit the mound

With fitful rays. Beneath it seated,

Our hero, staying at her side,

Kept vigil o'er his sleeping bride.

By tristful thought all but defeated

The poor prince was; within him crowded

Dreams, fancies and imaginings;

Beginning gently to enshroud him,

Above him hovered sleep's cool wings.

His closing eyes upon the sweet

Young maid he tried to fix, but, feeling

Unable this to do, sank, reeling,

By slumber captured, at her feet.

A dream comes to him, bodeful, gloomy:

He seems to see Ludmila, his

Sweet princess, pale-faced and unmoving,

Pause on the brink of an abyss.

She vanishes, and he is standing