VI
Am I not beautiful? Your lithe mouth twitches
As if already you were glutted on
This fair firm flesh that fears you and yet itches
—- You know it — for some master malison.
Perhaps you mean to let me go? Ah sweet !
How seven times sweet if you will let me go —
Oh! Oh! I want to worship at your feet.
Why do you stab me with a smiling ‘‘ No”?
Say ‘‘ no” at least — to see you sitting there
So dumb is madness — why then, let me go!
I will —- and you sit quiet — did you dare?
To everything the answer still is ‘ No! ”
You coward! Coward! Coward ! let me rise! —
I cannot bear the hunger in your eyes.
— 106—
VII
You are afraid of me — I see it now.
You know that if you loose me, never again
Will TI be such a fool. I wonder how
T ever took this destiny of pain.
Loose me! You dare not. Take your eyes away!
You dare not. O you laugh! Youtrust your power
There you are wrong — but had you turned to-day
I would have murdered you within the hour.
Yes! you do well — you know the dreadful weight
Pale silence sheds, not Atlas could uplift.
You know the spell to conquer love and hate,
To win the world and win it at a gift.
You are afraid of that then — had you spoken
You fear the spell upon me had been broken!