LYRICAL AND DRAMATIC. 125
Il.
HER STORY.
E 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 ;
He saved our honour from a single speck.
And so he went away; and fate inwove
The bitterest of treason for our love.
For scarce two days when sickness took the King,
And death tissolved the violence of the ring,
I ruled alone; I left my palace gate
To see if Love should have the laugh at Fate.
And so I violated Death, and died ;
And in the other land my spirit cried
For incarnation ; conquering I came
Within my soulless body as a flame.