Collected Works (Vol. I)

100 MYSTERIES: LYRICAL AND DRAMATIC \ But I, unknightly, recreant, a coward, Dare not release my soul from fate untoward By such a craven’s cunning. Nay, my soul Must move unflinching to what bitter goal The angry gods design—if gods be froward I am a man, nor fear to drain the bowl. Now some old devil, dead no doubt and damned, But living in her life, had wisely crammed Her fierce bronze throat with such a foul device As made her belly yearn for sacrifice. She leered like love on me, and smiled, and shammed, And did not pity for all her breast of spice. They thrust me in her hateful jaws, and I Even then resisted not, so fain to die Was my desire, so weary of the fight With my own love, so willing to be quite Sure of my strength by death ; and eagerly Almost I crossed the barrier keen and white. When lo! a miracle! Her carven hand Is lifted, and the little space is spanned, And I am plucked from out her maw, and set Down on the pedestal, whose polished jet Shone like a mirror out of hell-—I stand Free, where the blood of other men is wet. So slowly, while the mob stood back, I went Out of the city, with no life content, And certain I should meet no death least. Soon, riding ever to the stubborn east, I came upon a shore whose ocean bent In one long curve, where folk were making feast. at So with no ‘heart to feast, I joined the mirth, Mingled the dances that delight the earth, And laughing looked in every face of guile. Quick was my glance and subtle was my smile; Ten thousand little loves were brought to birth, Ten thousand loves that laughed a little while. No; for one woman did not laugh, too wise ! But came so close, and looked within my eyes So deeply that I saw not anything. Only her eyes grew, as a purple ring Shielding the sun. They grew; they uttered lies— They fascinate and cleave to me and cling. Then in their uttermost profound I saw The veil of Love’s unalterable law Lifted, and in the shadow far behind Dim and divine, within the shadow blind My own love’s face most amorously draw Out of the deep toward my cloudy mind. O suddenly I felt a kiss enclose My whole live body, as a rich red rose Folding its sweetness round the honey-bee ! I felt a perfect soul embracing me, And in my spirit like a river flows A passion like the passion of the sea. IT. Hk did not kiss me with his mouth ; his eyes Kissed mine, and mine kissed back; it was not wise, But yet he had the strength to leave me; so I was so glad he loved enough to go, My arms could never have released his neck ; Ife saved our honour from a single speck. And so he went away ; and fate inwove The bitterest of treason for our love.