-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？