-Wemaybeblindtomen,sir:weembraceAfuturenowbeyondthefowler’snets。
Thoughfew,weholdapromisefortheraceThatwasnotatourrising:youarefreeTowinbravemates;youlosebutmarionnettes。
Hewho’sforus,forhimarewe-
Ah!madam,weretheypuppetswhowithstoodYouth’scrangsforadventuretopreserveThededicatedwaysofwomanhood?
Thelightwhichleadsusfromthepathsofrue,Thatlightaboveus,neverseentoswerve,Shouldbethehome-lamptrimmedbyyou-
Ah!sir,ourworshippedpostureweperchanceShallnotabandon,thoughweseenothow,Beingtothatlamp-postfed,wemayadvanceBesideourlordsinanyrealdegree,Unlesswemove:andtoadvanceisnowAsovereignneed,thinkmorethanwe-
Sopushyououtofharbourinsmallcraft,Withlittleseamanship;andcomesagale,Theworldwilllaugh,theworldhasoftenlaughed,Lady,toseehowboldwhenskiesareblue,Whenblackwindschurnthedeepshowpanic-pale,Howswifttotheoldnestflyyou!-
Whatthinksyourfriend,kindsir?WehaveescapedButpartlythatoldhalf-tamedwildbeast’spawWhereunderwoman,theweakthing,wasshaped:
Men,too,haveknownthecrampingenemyIngrimbruteforce,whomforceofbrainshallawe:
Himourdelerer,awaitwe!-
Delusionsarewitheloquenceendowed,AndyoursmightpluckanangelfromthespheresToplayinthisrevoltwheretoyouarevowed,Delerer,lady!butlikesummerdewO’erfieldsthatcrackforrainyourfriendsdroptears,Whoseetheawakeningforyou-
Isheourfriend,theresilent?heweepsnot。
Osir,delusionmountinglikeasunOnamindblankasthewhitewifeofLot,Gingitwarmthandmovement!ifthisbeDelusion,thinkofwhattherebywaswonFormen,anddreamofwhatwinwe-
Lady,thedestinyofminorpowers,Whowouldrecastus,isbuttoconvulse:
Youenteronastrifethatfretsandsours;
Youcanbutwinsickdisappointment’shue;
Andsimplyanacceleratedpulse,Sometonicyouhavedrunkmovesyou-
Thinksyourfriendso?Goodsir,yourwitisbright;
Butwitthatstrestospeakthepopularvoice,Putsonitsnightcapandputsoutitslight。
Curfew,wouldseemyourconqueror’sdecreeTowomenlikewise:andwehavenochoiceSavedarknessorrebellion,we!-
AplainsafeintermediatewayiscleftByreasonfoilingpassion:youthatraveOfmadalternatestorightandleftEchothetempter,madam:and’tisdueUntoyoursextoshunitasthegrave,Thislaterappleofferedyou-
Thisappleisnotripe,itisnotsweet;
Norrosy,sir,norgolden:eyeandmouthArelittlewooedbyit;yetwewouldeat。
WearesomewhattiredofEden,isourplea。
Wehavethirstedlong;thisapplesuitsourdrouth:
’Tisgoodformentohalve,thinkwe-
Butsay,whatseekyou,madam?’TisenoughThatyoushouldhavedominiono’erthespringsDomesticandman’sheart:thoseways,howrough,Howle,outsidethestatelyavenueWhereyouwalkshelteredbyyourangel’swings,Arehappilyunknowntoyou-
Wehearwomen’sshrieksonthem。Welikeyourphrase,Dominiondomestic!Andthatroar,’Whatseekyou?’isoftyrantsinalldays。
Sir,getyousomethingofourpurityAndwewillofyourstrength:weasknomore。
Thatisthesumofwhatseekwe-
Oforanimage,madam,inoneword,Toshowyouasthelightningnightreveals,Yourerrorandyourperils:youhaveerredInmindonly,andtheperilsthatensueSwiftheelsmaysoften;whereforetoswiftheelsAddressyourhopesofsafetyyou!-
Toerrinmind,sir……yourfriendsmiles:hemay!
Toerrinmind,iferrinmindwecan,Isgrievouserroryoudowelltostay。
ButOhowdifferentfromrealityMen’sfictionis!howlikeyouintheplan,Iswoman,knewyouheraswe!-
Look,lady,whereyonrerwindsitslineTowardsunset,andreceesonbreastandfaceThesplendouroffairlife:tobedine,’Tisnaturebidsyoubetonaturetrue,Flowingwithbeauty,lendingearthyourgrace,Reflectingheaveninclearnessyou-
Sir,youspeakwell:yourfriendnowordvouchsafes。
Toflowwithbeauty,breedingfoolsandworse,Cowardsandworse:atsuchfairlifeshechafes,Whoisnotwhollyofthenursery,Norofyourschools:wesharetheprimalcurse;
Togethershakeitoff,saywe!-
Hear,then,myfriend,madam!Tongue-restrainedhestandsTillwordsarethoughts,andthoughts,likeswordsenrichedWithtraceriesoftheartificer’shands,Arefire-provedsteeltocut,fairflowerstoew-
DoIhearhim?Oh,heisbewitched,bewitched!
Heedhimnot!Traitressbeautiesyou!
Wehavewonachampion,sisters,andasage!
Ladies,youwinaguesttoagoodfeast!
Sirspokesman,sneersareweaknessveilingrage。
Ofweakness,andwisemen,youhavethekey。
ThenaretherefreshermorningsmountingEastThaneveryethavedawned,singwe!
Falseendsasfalsebegan,madam,besure!
Whatlurethereisthepurecausepurifies!-
Whopurifiesthectimofthelure?
Thatsoulwhichbidsusourhighlightpursue。
Someheightsaremeasureddown:thewarywiseShunReasoninthemasquewithyou!
Sir,forthefriendyoubringus,takeourthanks。
Yes,Beautywasofoldthisbarrengoal;
Athingwithclaws;andbrute-likeinherpranks!
ButcouldshegemoreloyalguaranteeThanwooingWisdom,thatinherasoulHasrisen?Adieu:contentarewe!
Thoseladiesledtheircaptetotheflood’sGreenedge。HefloatingwiththemseemedthemostFool-flushedoldnoddyevercrownedwithbuds。
HappierthanI!Then,whynotwisertoo?
ForhethatleswithBeauty,hemayboastHiscomradeovermeandyou。
HavewomennursedsomedreamsinceHelensailedOvertheseaofbloodtheblushingstar,Thatbeauty,whomfrailmanasGoddesshailed,Whennotpossessingherforsuchishe!,Mightinawonderingseasonseenafar,Betamedtosaynot’I,’but’we’?
AndshalltheymakeofBeautytheirestate,Thefortressandtheweaponoftheirsex?
Shallsheinherfrost-brilliancydictate,Morequeenlythanofold,howwemustwoo,Ereshewillmelt?Thehalter’sonournecks,Kickasitlikesus,Iandyou。
Certainitis,ifBeautyhasdisdainedHerancientconquests,withanaimthushigh:
Ifthis,ifthat,ifmore,thefightisgained。
Butcanshekeepherfollowerswithoutfee?
Yetah!tohearanewthoseladiescry,Hewho’sforus,forhimarewe!
Melpomeneamongherlidpeople,Erestrokeoflyre,uponThaleialooks,WarnedbyoldconteststhatonemusefulrippleAlongthoselipsofrosewithtendrilhooksForebodesdisturbanceinthespringsofpathos,Perchancemaychangeofmasksmidwaydemand,AlbeitthemanrisemountainousasAthos,ThewomanwildasCapeLeucadiastand。
ForthistheComicMuseexactsofcreaturesAppealingtothefountoftears:thattheyStrenevertooutleapourhumanfeatures,AnddoRightReason’sordinanceobey,Inperilofthehumtolaughternighest。
Butprovetheyunderstressofaction’sfireNobleness,tothattestofReasonhighest,Shebows:shewavesthemfortheloftierlyre。
InmiddleageanelthingBefellArchduchessAnne:
Shelookedoutsideherwedding-ringUponaprincelyman。
CountLouiswasforhorseandarms;
Andifitsbeaconwaved,Forlove;butladieshadnotcharmsTomatchadangerbraved。
OnbattlefieldshewasthebowBestrungtoflytheshaft:
InidlehourshisheartwouldflowAswindsoncurrentswaft。
HisbloodwasofthosewarriortribesThatstreamedfrommorning’sfire,WhomnowwithtrapsandnowwithbribesThewilyCouncilwire。
ArchduchessAnnetheCouncilruled,CountLouishisgreatdame;
Andwoetobothwhenonehadcooled!
Littlewasshetoblame。
Amongherchiefswhospuntheirplots,OldKrakenstoodthesword:
AssharphiswitsforcuttingknotsOfbabbleheabhorred。
Hereverencedhernameandline,NorothermerithadSavesoldierwisetowaithersign,Anddothedeedshebade。
HesawherhandjumpathersideEreroyallyshesmiledOnLouisandhisfairyoungbrideWherecourtlyranksdefiled。
ThatwasamomentwhenashockThroughtheprocessionran,Andthrilledtheplumes,andstayedtheclock,YetsmiledArchduchessAnne。
Notouchgaveshetohoundinleash,Nowinktoswordinsheath:
Sheseemedawomanscarceofflesh;
Aboveit,orbeneath。
OldKrakenspiedwithkennelledsnarl,HisLadydeemeddisgraced。
Hefootedasonburningmarl,WhenoutofHallhepaced。
’Twasseenhehammeredstridinglegs,Andstopped,andstrodeagain。
NowVengeancehasabroodofeggs,ButPatiencemustbehen。
Tooslowaretheyforwrathtohatch,Toohotfortimetorear。
OldKrakenkeptunwindingwatch;
Hemarkedhisdayappear。
Heneighedalaugh,thoughmoodswereroughWithstandardsinrevolt:
Hisnostrilstookthenewsforsnuff,Hissmackinglipsforsalt。
CountLouis’wavycock’splumesledHistroopsofblack-hairedmanes,Arebel;andoldKrakenspedTofronthimontheplains。
ThencampopposedtocampdidtheyFretearthwithpantherclawsForsignalofabloodyday,EachreadingfromtheLaws。
’Forefendit,heaven!’CountLouiscried,’Andlettherighteousplead:
Mycountryisawillingbride,Wasneverslavedecreed。
’NotweforthirstofbloodappealToswordandslaughtercurst;
WehaveGod’sblessingonoursteel,Doweourpleadingfirst。’
CountLouis,soulofchalry,Puttrustinplightedword;
Bystarlightonthebroadbrownlea,Tobarthestrifehespurred。
Acrosshisbreastacrimsonspot,Thatinaquerglowed,Theruddycrestedcamp-firesshot,Ashetodarknessrode。
Herodewhileomenscalled,bewareOldKraken’spledgeoffaith!
Asmileandwanghandinair,Andoutwardflewthewraith。
Beforepalemornhadmedwithgold,Hisarmyroared,andchilled,Asmenwhohaveawoeforetold,Andseeitredfulfilled。
Awayandtohisyoungwifespeed,AndsaythatHonour’sdead!
AnotherwordshewillnotneedTobowawidow’shead。
OldKrakenropedhiswhitemoustacheRight,left,forsavageglee:-
Toswinghiminhissoldier’ssashWerekindforsuchashe!
OldKraken’slookhardWinterwearsWhensweepsthewildsnow-blast:
HehadthehugofArcticbearsForcaptesheheldfast。
ArchduchessAnnesatcarvedinfrost,Shutofffrompriestandspouse。
Herlipswerelocked,herarmswerecrossed,Hereyeswereinherbrows。
Onehandenclosedapaperscroll,Heldasastrangledasp。
Somayweseethewoman’ssoulInherdiretempter’sgrasp。
AlongthatscrollCountLouis’doomThrobbedtillthelettersflamed。
Shesawhiminhisscornfulbloom,Shesawhimchainedandshamed。
AroundthatscrollCountLouis’fateWasactedtoherstare,AndhateinloveandloveinhateFoughtfelltosmiteorspare。
Betweenthedaythatstruckherold,Andthisblackstarofdays,Herheartswunglikeastorm-belltolledAboveatownablaze。
Hisbeautypressedtointercede,Hisbeautyservedhimill-
NotVengeance,’tishisrebel’sdeed,’TisJustice,notourwill!
Yetwhohadsprungtolife’sfullforceAbreastthatlovelessdried?