第30章
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  -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?

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