Butwhenthearrowstrikeshim，there’sachange。
Hemovesbutinthetrackofhisspentpain，Whosereddropsarethelinksofaharshchain，Bindinghimtotheground，withnarrowrange。
AsubtleserpentthenhasLovebecome。
Ihadtheeagleinmybosomerst：
HenceforwardwiththeserpentIamcursed。
Icaninterpretwherethemouthisdumb。
Speak，andIseetheside-lieofatruth。
Perchancemyheartmaypardonyouthisdeed：
Butbenocoward：-youthatmadeLovebleed，Youmustbearallthevenomofhistooth!
Distractionisthepanacea，Sir!
IhearmyoracleofMedicinesay。
Doctor!thatsamespecificyesterdayItried，andtheresultwillnotdeterAsecondtrial。Isthedel’slineOfgoldenhair，orravenblack，composed？
Anddoesacheek，likeanysea-shellrosed，Orclearaswidowedsky，seemmostdine？
Nomatter，soItasteforgetfulness。
Andifthedelsnareme，bodyandmind，HeregratefullyIscore：-heseemedkind，Whennotasoulwouldcomfortmydistress!
Osweetnewworld，inwhichIrisenewmade!
OLady，onceIgavelove：nowItake!
Lady，Imustbeflattered。ShouldstthouwakeThepassionofademon，benotafraid。
Imustbeflattered。TheimperiousDesirespeaksout。Lady，IamcontentToplaywithyouthegameofSentiment，Andwithyouenteronpathsperilous；
ButifacrossyourbeautyIthrowlight，Tomakeitthreefold，itmustbeallmine。
Firstsecret；thenavowed。ForImustshineEned，——I，lessenedinmypropersight!
Bewatchfulofyourbeauty，Ladydear!
Howmuchhangsonthatlampyoucannottell。
MostearnestlyIprayyou，tenditwell：
Andmenshallseemeasaburningsphere；
Andmenshallmarkyoueyeingme，andgroanTobetheGodofsuchagrandsunflower!
IfeelthepromptingsofSatanicpower，Whileyoudohomageuntomealone。
AmIfailing？FornolongercanIcastAgloryroundaboutthisheadofgold。
Gloryshewears，butspringingfromthemould；
NotliketheconsecrationofthePast!
Ismysoulbeggared？SomethingmorethanearthIcryforstill：IcannotbeatpeaceInhangLoveuponamortallease。
Icannottakethewomanatherworth!
WhereistheancientwealthwherewithIclothedOurhumannakedness，andcouldendowWithspiritualsplendourawhitebrowThatelsehadgrinnedatmethefactIloathed？
Akissisbutakissnow!andnowaveOfagreatfloodthatwhirlsmetothesea。
But，asyouwill!we’llsitcontentedly，Andeatourpotofhoneyonthegrave。
Whatarewefirst？First，animals；andnextIntelligencesataleap；onwhomPaleliesthedistantshadowofthetomb，Andallthatdrawethonthetombfortext。
IntowhichstatecomesLove，thecrowningsun：
Beneathwhoselighttheshadowlosesform。
Wearethelordsoflife，andlifeiswarm。
Intelligenceandinstinctnowareone。
Butnaturesays：’MychildrenmosttheyseemWhentheyleastknowme：thereforeIdecreeThattheyshallsuffer。’SwiftdothyoungLoveflee，Andwestandwakened，sheringfromourdream。
ThenifwestudyNaturewearewise。
Thusdothefewwholebutwiththeday：
Thescientificanimalsarethey-
Lady，thisismysonnettoyoureyes。
Thisgoldenheadhaswitinit。IleAgain，andafarhigherlife，nearher。
Somewomenlikeayoungphilosopher；
Perchancebecauseheisdiminute。
Forwoman’smanlygodmustnotexceedProportionsofthenaturalnursingsize。
GreatpoetsandgreatsagesdrawnoprizeWithwomen：butthelittlelap-dogbreed，Whocanbehugged，oronamantel-piecePerchedupforadoration，theseobtainHerhomage。Andofthiswemenarevain？
Ofthis!’Tisorderedfortheworld’sincrease!
Smallflattery!YetshehasthatraregiftTobeauty，CommonSense。Iamapproved。
Itisnothalfsoniceasbeingloved，AndyetIdopreferit。What’smydrift？
FullfaithIhavesheholdsthatrarestgiftTobeauty，CommonSense。ToseeherlieWithherfairsageaninvertedskyBloom-covered，whiletheunderlidsuplift，Wouldalmostwreckthefaith；butwhenhermouthCanitkisssweetly？sweetly!wouldaddressTheinnermethatthirstsforhernoless，Andhassolongbeenlanguishingindrouth，IfeelthatIammatched；thatIamman!
Onerestlesscornerofmyheartorhead，Thatholdsadyingsomethingneverdead，Stillfrets，thoughNaturegethallshecan。
Itmeans，thatwomanisnot，Iopine，Hersex’santidote。WhoseekstheaspForserpent’sbites？’TwouldcalmmecouldIclaspShriekingBacchanteswiththeirsoulsofwine!
’InParis，attheLouvre，therehaveIseenThesumptuously-featheredangelpierceProneLucifer，descending。Lookedhefierce，Showingthefightafairone？Tooserene!
TheyoungPharsaliansdidnotdisarrayLesswillinglytheirlocksoffloatingsilk：
ThatsucklingmouthofhisuponthemilkOfheavenmightstillbefeastingthroughthefray。
Oh，Raphael!whenmentheFienddofight，Theyconquernotuponsucheasyterms。
Halfserpentinthestrugglegrowtheseworms。
Anddoeshegrowhalfhuman，allisright。’
ThistomyLadyinadistantspot，Uponthetheme：WHILEMINDISMASTERINGCLAY，GROSSCLAYINVADESIT。Ifthespyyouplay，Mywife，readthis!Strangelovetalk，isitnot？
Madamwouldspeakwithme。So，nowitcomes：
TheDelugeorelseFire!She’swell；shethanksMyhusbandship。Ourchainonsilenceclanks。
Timeleersbetween，abovehistwiddlingthumbs。
AmIquitewell？Mostexcellentinhealth!
Thejournals，too，Idiligentlyperuse。
Vesuusisexpectedtogenews：
Niagaraisnonoisier。BystealthOureyesdartscrutinizingsnakes。She’sgladI’mhappy，saysherqueringunder-lip。
’Andarenotyou？’’HowcanIbe？’’Takeship!
Forhappinessissomewheretobehad。’
’Nowhereforme!’Hervoiceisbarelyheard。
Iamnotmelted，andmakenopretence。
WithcommonplaceIfreezeher，tongueandsense。
NiagaraorVesuusisdeferred。
ItisnovulgarnatureIhavewed。
Secrete，sensite，shetakesawoundDeeptohersoul，asifthesensehadswooned，Andnotathoughtofvengeancehadsurved。
Noconfidenceshasshe：butreliefMustcometoonewhosesufferingisacute。
Ohaveacareofnaturesthataremute!
Theypunishyouinacts：theirstepsarebrief。
Whatisshedoing？WhatdoesshedemandFromProdenceorme？SheisnotoneLongtoendurethistorpidly，andshunThedrugsthatcrowdaboutawoman’shand。
AtForfeitsduringsnowweplayed，andI
Mustkissher。’Wellperformed!’Isaid：thenshe：
“Tishardlyworththemoney，youagree？’
Saveher？Whatfor？Toactthisweddedlie!
MyLadyuntoMadammakesherbow。
Thecharmofwomenis，thatevenwhileYou’reprobedbythemfortears，youyetmaysmile，Nay，laughoutright，asIhavedonejustnow。
Theinterewwasgracious：theyanointTomeasideeachotherwithfinepraise：
Discriminatingcomplimentstheyraise，Thathitwithwondrousaimontheweakpoint：
MyLady’snoseofNaturemightcomplain。
ItisnotfashionedaptlytoexpressHercharacteroflarge-browedsteadfastness。
ButMadamsays：Thereofshemaybevain!
Now，Madam’sfaultyfeatureisaglazedAndinaccessibleeye，thathassoftfires，Widegates，atlove-time，only。ThisadmiresMyLady。AtthetwoIstandamazed。
Alongthegardenterrace，underwhichApurplevalleylightedatitsedgeBysmokytorch-flameonthelongcloud-ledgeWhereunderdroppedthechariotglimmersrich，Aquietcompanywepace，andwaitThedinner-bellinprae-digestecalm。
SosweetupoletbankstheSouthernbalmBreathesround，wecarenotifthebellbelate：
ThoughhereandtheregreyseniorsquestionTimeInirritablecoughings。WithslowfootThelowrosedmoon，thefaceofMusicmute，Beginsamonghersilentbarstoclimb。
Asinandout，insilverydusk，wethread，IhearthelaughofMadam，anddiscernMyLady’sheelbeforemeateachturn。
Ourtragedy，isitaleordead？
GetoimaginationsomepurelightInhumanformtofit，oryoushameThedelswiththathideoushumangame：-
Imaginationurgingappetite!
Thusfallenhaveearth’sgreatestGogmagogs，Whodazzleus，whomwecannotrevere：
ImaginationisthecharioteerThat，indefaultofbetter，dresthehogs。
So，therefore，mydearLady，letmelove!
Mysoulisarrowytothelightinyou。
YouknowmethatInevercanrenewThebondthatwomanbroke：whatwouldyouhave？
’TisLove，orleness!notachoicebetween，Savepetrifaction!WhatdoesPityhere？
Shekilledathing，andnowit’sdead，’tisdear。
Oh，whenyoucounselme，thinkwhatyoumean!
Sheyields：myLadyinhernoblestmoodHasyielded：she，mygolden-crownedrose!
Thebrideofeverysense!moresweetthanthoseWhobreathetheoletbreathofmaidenhood。
Osageofstillmusicinthesky!
Softmoon!Ifeelthysong，myfairestfriend!
TrueharmonywithincanapprehendDumbharmonywithout。Andhark!’tisnigh!
Beliefhasstruckthenoteofsound：agleamOflingsilvershowsmewheresheshookHerlongwhitefingersdowntheshadowybrook，Thatsingshersong，halfwaking，halfindream。
Whattwocomeheretomarthisheavenlytune？
Amanisone：thewomanbearsmyname，Andhonour。Theirhandstouch!AmIstilltame？
God，whatadancingspectreseemsthemoon!
IbademyLadythinkwhatshemightmean。
KnowImymeaning，I？CanIloveone，Andyetbejealousofanother？NoneCommitssuchfolly。TerribleLove，Iween，Hasmight，evendead，halfsighingtoupheaveThelightlessseasofselfishnessamain：
Seasthatinaman’shearthavenorainTofallandstillthem。PeacecanIachieve，Byturningtothisfountain-sourceofwoe，Thiswoman，who’stoLoveasfiretowood？
ShebreathedtheoletbreathofmaidenhoodAgainstmykissesonce!butIsay，No!
Thethingismockedat!Helplesslyafloat，IknownotwhatIdo，wheretoIstre。
ThedreadthatmyoldlovemaybealeHasseizedmynurslingnewlovebythethroat。
Howmanyathingwhichwecasttotheground，Whenotherspickitupbecomesagem!