The Star and the Garter

XIX A FAINT sweet smell of ether haunts Yet the remembrance. Hear the wizard His lone and melancholy chaunts Heard in the rain-storm and the blizzard! The ancient and devoted dizzard! Appear, thou dream of loveliness! She wore a rose and amber dress, With broidery of old gold. Her hair Was long and starry, gilded red. Her face was laughter, shapen fair By the sweet things she thought and said. Her whiteness rustled as she walked. Her hair sang tunes across the air. She sighed, laughed, whispered, never talked. She smiled, and loves devout and rare Flickered about the room. She stayed Still in the dusk : her body sang Out full and clear “‘O love me!” Rang The silver couplets undismayed, Bright, bold, convincing. In her eyes 42