XXXVII 
  
THE MOON’S GIFTS 
  
  
THE Moon, who is caprice itself looked in at 
the window while thou dost sleep in they cra-
dle, and said to herself, “This child pleases 
me.” 
Softly she descended her ladder of clouds 
and passed noiselessly through the window-
panes. Then she stretched herself upon thee 
with the supple tenderness of a mother, and 
laid her colours on thy face. From that thine 
eyes are turned green, and thy cheeks are 
marvellous pale. It is through looking at this 
celestial visitant that thine eyes are grown so 
strangely large, and she has so tenderly fas-
tened on thy throat that thou hast therefore 
kept for ever the desire to weep. 
And yet in the overflowing of her joy the 
moon filled all the room like a phosphorescent 
atmosphere, like a luminous poison, and all 
this living light was thinking and saying: “Thou 
shalt know eternally the influence of my kiss; 
thou shalt be beautifully in my fashion. Thou 
shalt love that which I love and which loves