William Black

“ Whereat they looked, and smiled, and said ’twas fine,
’Twas wondrous fine, the convent should be famed!
I heard them all, yet heeded none. To me
My picture offered calm content, and I
Was fain to spend my life in solitude—
My poor and shattered life—a worthless thing—
A sunset drowned in rainy mist of tears.
Among the rest one day an artist came,—
He said he was an artist—this I knew
In that he spoke not hurriedly, nor deemed
It quite sufficient for a painter’s ear
To hear that he had met with fair success. ”

“ Should I forsake my convent and go forth
With glory as a meteoric star
To blind the eyes of men?—forget my vows,
Peril mayhap the safety of my soul?
“Thou shalt have wealth, whate’er thou mayst desire,
By dispensation of the Holy See ”