THE TWENTY-NINTH DAY 
 
“ Persevere in that clear way thou goest, 
And the gods strengthen thee.” 
Pericles. 
 
Linked in the tiny shelf upon the ship, 
My blind eyes burned into her mild ones :  limbs 
Twined to each other while fine dew bedims 
Their quivering skins :  lip fastened unto lip : 
Whole soul and body frenzied meet and clip ; 
And the breath staggers, and the life-blood swims ! 
Terrible gods chant black demoniac hymns 
As the frail cords of honour strain and slip. 
 
For in the midst of that tremendous tide 
The mighty vigour of a god was mine ! 
Drunk with desire, her lamentations died. 
The dove gave place a moment to the swine ! 
Rapturous draughts of madness !  Out she sighed 
Uttermost life’s love, and became a bride. 
 
Beneath the sonnet, in pencil, and feebler hand, are scrawled 
faintly the words :  Alice !  Alice ! 
 
68