THE VIRGIN
53
This , as is usually
the
case , finds
an outlet
in
the
first pretty maid who happens to cross youth's burning
path , and in this case the fair damozel is Molly Tyson ,
and
the first scene of their meeting is most typical :
Sir Percy . Ah , love , love , how I love
you.
This
is
the
world ! Love ! Love ! I
love
you
so , my
darling .
Oh
my
white golden heart of glory !'
Eternity is moulded in form of her kiss , and even if
“ Hell
belch
its
monsters one
by
one
to
stop the way
!
I
would
be
there
”
cries Sir Percy
as
he and Molly rush
backwards
and forwards
kissing
and
kissing
before
they
can
finally part
.
And
no
sooner has
he
parted
with her
,
having sworn eternal love and
to
meet
her
at
moonrise
,
than
he
stumbles across
a
bedizened hag
of
sixty
-
three
(
society
),
and
in
ten minutes
,
because
she calls herself
“
the wretchedest girl
on
the wide
earth
,”
discovers
“
she
is
most beautiful
”;
“
How
she speaks
!
It
is
indeed
an
angel singing
,”
and asks
if
he
may call her Angela
,
and forgets his poor village
girl
,
and utterly
overcome when
she says
,
“
I
am
a
poor and simple girl
,
and my eyes
are aching with
the sight
of
you
,
and my lips
are
mad
to
kiss you
!")
falls into her arms learning his first great lesson
;
for
as
Angela says
,
“
it
is
dangerous
as
well
as
cruel
to
leave
a
lover standing
."
To wake again
to
all
the effervesence
of
efflorescent
youth
:
Awake
!
awake
!
There
is
a
secret
in
our subtle
union
That
masters
the grey snake
.
Awake
,
O
Love
!
and
let
me drink my fill
Of thee-and thou of me
!?
His subtle union
,
however
,
is
soon about
to
vanish
,
|
Why Jesus Wept
,
vol
.
iii,
p
.
30
.
2
Ibid
.
vol
.
iii,
p
.
40
.