There as I bowed mine head 
Upon the amber altar, 
And shed my life out there before ye all, 
Careless if I had summoned from the skies 
Some young true God, or spoiled the sacrifice, 
And were but dead as any man is dead ! 
So I have given up my inmost life 
Even unto you, sweet wife, 
Careless—yet conscious of the babe-stirred womb 
Of some dread Mother older than the Tomb, 
Wiser than Life, more pitiful than Death. 
 
 
IV 
 
OUR wine-stained and wine-coloured hair unloosing, 
Mingle your wine-wise breath, 
Spiritual siren !  with the scent seducing 
Your body sheds, scarred with the bleeding kisses 
My tenderness bit in, 
Like to a lion feeding in wild white wildernesses, 
My spirit sensible to your skin : 
Mingle them to a crescent character 
That shall set shimmering all the parchment fine 
And send a steam like wine 
Laden with ecstasy and pain 
Choral through all the passion-stained and passion- 
trembling air. 
Inspire a closer strain 
5 
Y