Loveme？shehisvowsrepeated：
Fieryvowsoftsungandthrummed：
Wondered，asonearthastranger；
Thirsted，trusted，andsuccumbed。
Obelovedyouth!mylover!
Mine!mylover!takemylifeWholly：thineinsoulandbody，Bythisoathofmorethanwife!
Knowmefornohelplesswoman；
Nay，norcoward，thoughIsinkAwedbesidethee，likeaninfantLearningshameereitcanthink。
Swingmehencetodotheeserce，Bethysuccour，provethyshield；
Heavenwillhear!——inhousethyhandmaid，Squireuponthebattlefield。
AtmybreastsIcoolthyfootsoles；
WineIpour，Idressthymeats；
Humbly，whenmylorditpleaseth，Liewithhimonperfumedsheets：
Prayforhim，myblood’sdearfountain，Whilehesleeps，andwatchhisyawnInthatwakeningbabelikemoment，Sweetertomythoughtthandawn!-
Thunderedthenherlordofthunders；
Burstthedoor，and，flashingsword，Louddisgorgedthewoman’stitle：
Condemnationinoneword。
Grandbyrighteouswrathtransfigured，TowersthehusbandwhoprodesInhispersonjudgeandwitness，Death’sblackdoorkeeperbesides!
Roundhisheadtheancientterrors，Conjuredofthestronger’slaw，Circle，toabashthecreatureDaringtwistbeneathhispaw。
HowthoughhehathsquanderedHonourHighofHonourlethimscold：
Gildingoftheman’spossession，’Tisthewoman’scoinofgold。
SheinheritingfrommanyBleedingmothersbleedingsenseFeels’twtherandsharp-fangednatureHonourfirstdidplantthefence。
Nature，thatsoshrieksforjustice；
Honour’sthirst，thatbloodwillslake；
Thesearewomen’sriddles，roughlyMedtowritethemsaintorsnake。
Nevernaturecherishedwoman：
Shethroughoutthesexes’warServesastemptressandbetrayer，Favouringman，themuscular。
Lurefulisshe，bentforfolly；
Doatingonthechildwhichcrows：
Yourstoteachhimgraceinfealty，Whatthebloomis，whattherose。
Hardthetask：yourprison-chamberWidensnotforliftedlatchTillthegiantthewsandsinewsMeettheirGodlikeovermatch。
Readthatriddle，scorningpity’sTears，ofcockatricesshed：
Whentheheartisvowedforfreedom，Captaincyityieldstohead。
Meanwhileyou，freakednature’smartyrs，Honour’sarmy，flowerandweed，Gentleladies，weddedladies，Seeforyouthisfaironebleed。
Solestoodheroffence，shefaltered；
Prayedherlordtheyouthtospare；
PrayedthatintheorangegardenShemightlie，andceasedherprayer。
ThencommandingtoallwomenChastity，herbreastsshelaidBareuntotheself-avenger。
Maninmetalwastheblade。
WhentheSouthsanglikeanightingaleAboveabowerinMay，ThetrainingofLove’sneofflameWaswritinlaws，forlordanddameTosaytheiryeaandnay。
WhentheSouthsanglikeanightingaleAcrossthefloweringnight，Andlordanddameheldgentlesport，TherecameayoungprincesstoCourt，Afrostofbeautywhite。
TheSouthsanglikeanightingaleTothawherglitteringdream：
NoneofLoveherbosomgave，ShedranknowineofLove，butgraveSheheldthemtoLove’stheme。
TheSouthgrewallanightingaleBeneathamoonunmoved：
Likethebannerofwarsheledthemon；
Sheleftthemtolie，likethelightthathasgoneFromwine-cupsoverproved。
WhentheSouthwasaferdnightingale，Andsheachillingmoon，’Twaspitytoseeonthegardenswards，AgainstLove’slaws，thoserallordsAswillow-wandsliestrewn。
TheSouthhadthroatofanightingaleForher，theyoungprincess：
ShegavenoneofLovetorear，Love’swinedranknot，yetbentherearTothemesofLovenoless。
ThelordsoftheCourttheysighedheart-sick，Heart-freeLordDusiotelaughed：
Iprizehernomorethanaflingo’thedice，But，orshametomymanhood，aladyofice，Wemasterherbycraft!
Heart-sickthelordsofjoyanceyawned，LordDusiotelaughedheart-free：
Icountherasmuchasacracko’mythumb，But，orshameofmymanhood，tomesheshallcomeLikethebirdtoroostinthetree!
Atdeadofnightwhenthepalace-guardHadpassedthemeasuredrounds，TheyoungprincessawoketofeelAshudderofbloodatthecrackleofsteelWithinthegarden-bounds。
Itceased，andshethoughtofwhomwasneed，Thefriarortheleech；
Whenlo，stoodhertirewomanbreathlessby：
LordDusiote，madam，todeathisnigh，Ofyouhewouldhavespeech。
Hepraysyouofyourgentleness，Tolighthimtohisdarkend。
Theprincessrose，andforthshewent，Forcharitywasherintent，Devoutlytobefriend。
LordDusiotehungonhisgoodsquire’sarm，Thepriestbesidehimknelt：
AweepinghandkerchiefwaspressedTostaytheredfloodathisbreast，Andbidcoldladiesmelt。
Olady，thoughyouareicetomen，AllpuretoheavenaslightWithinthedewwithintheflower，Ofyou’tiswhisperedthatlovehaspowerWhensecretisthenight。
Ihavesilencedtheslanderers，peacetotheirsouls!
Saveonewastoocunningforme。
Idie，whoseloveislateavowed，Heles，whoboaststhelilyhasbowedTotheoathofabendedknee。
LordDusiotedrewbreathwithpain，Andshewithpaindrewbreath：
Onhimshelooked，onhislikeabove；
SheflewinthefoldsofamarvelofloveRevealedtopasstodeath。
Youaredying，Ogreat-heartedlord，Youaredyingforme，shecried；
Otakemyhand，Otakemykiss，Andtakeofyourrightforlovelikethis，Thevowthatplightsmebride。
ShebadethepriestrecitehiswordsWhilehandinhandwerethey，LordDusiote’ssoultowafttobliss；
Hehadherhand，hervow，herkiss，Andhisbodywasborneaway。
LordDusiotesprangfrompriestandsquire；
Hegazedatherlightedroom：
Thelaughterinhisheartgrewslack；
HeknewnottheforcethatpushedhimbackFromherandthemorninbloom。
Likeadrownedman’slengthonthestrongflood-tide，Liketheshadeofabirdinthesun，HefledfromhisladywhomhemightclaimAsghost，andwhomadethedaybeamsflameToscarewhathehaddone。
TherewasgriefatCourtforonesogay，ThoughhewasalordlesskeenFortrainingthenethanatntage-press；
ButinhersoultheyoungprincessBelievedthatlovehadbeen。
LordDusiotefledtheCourtandland，Hecrossedthewoefulseas，Tillhistraitorousdoingseemedclearertoburn，Andtheladybeloveddrewhisheartforreturn，Likethebannerofwarinthebreeze。
Henearedthepalace，hespiedtheCourt，Andmusicheheard，andtheytoldOfforeignlordsarredtobringThenuptialgiftsofabridegroomkingTotheprincessgraveandcold。
Themasqueandthedancewerecloudonwave，AnddownthemasqueandthedanceLordDusiotesteppedfromdametodame，Andtotheyoungprincesshecame，Withabowandaburningglance。
Doyoutakeanewhusbandto-morrow，lady？
Sheshrankasatprickofsteel。
Mustthefirstyieldplacetothesecond，hesighed。
HereyeswerelikethegravethatiswideForthecorpsefromheadtoheel。
Mylady，mylove，thatlittlehandHasmineringedfastinplight：
Ibearforyourlipsalawfulthirst，Andasjustlythesecondshouldfollowthefirst，Icometoyourdoorthisnight。
Ifaghostshouldcomeaghostwillgo：
Nomoretheladysaid，SavethateverwhenheinwrathbeganToswearbythefaithofalingman，Sheansweredhim，Youaredead。
Thesoftnight-windwentladentodeathWithsmelloftheorangeinflower；
Thelightleavesprattledtoneighbourears；
Thebirdofthepassionsangoverhistears；
Thenightnamedhourbyhour。
Sangloud，sanglowtherapturousbirdTilltheyellowhourwasnigh，Behindthefoldsofadarkercloud：
Hechuckled，hesobbed，alow，aloud；
Thevoicebetweenearthandsky。I
Owillyou，willyou，womenareweak；
TheproudestareyieldingmatesForaforwardfootandatongueoffire：
SothoughtLordDusiote’strustysquire，Atwatchbythepalace-gates。
Thesongofthebirdwaswineinhisblood，Andwomantheodorousbloom：
Hismaster’sgreatadventurestirredWithinhimtominglethebloomandbird，Andmornereitscomingillume。
BesidehimstrangelyapieceofthedarkHadmoved，andtheundertonesOfapriestinprayer，likeacavernouswave，Heheard，aswerethereasoultosaveForurgencynowinthegroans。
Nopriestwashiredfortheplaythisnight：
AndthesquiretossedheadlikeadeerAtsniffofthetaintedwind；hegazedWherecresset-lampsinadoorwereraised，Belikeonapassingbier。
Allcloakedandmasked，withnakedblades，Thatflashedofajudgementdone，ThelordsoftheCourt，fromthepalace-door，Cameissuingsilently，bearersfour，Andflatontheirshouldersone。
Theymarchedthebodytosquireandpriest，Theylowereditsadtoearth：
Thepriesttheygavetheburialdole，Badewrestlehourlyforhissoul，Whowasalordofworth。
Onesaid，farewelltoagallantknight!
Andone，butarestlessghost!
’TisayearandadaysinceinthisplaceHedied，spedhighbyaladyofgraceTojointheblissfulhost。
Notvainlyonusshechargedhercause，TheladywhomwerevereForfaithinthemaskofaloveuntrueTotheLovewehonour，theLoveherdue，TheLovewehavevowedtorear。
Atrapforthesweettooth，luresforthelight，Forthefortressdefiantamine：
Rightwell!ButnotintheSouth，princess，ShalltheladysnaredofhernoblenessEvershamedoracaptepine。
WhentheSouthhadvoiceofanightingaleAboveaMayingbower，OntheheightsofLovewalkedradiantpeers；
ThebirdofthepassionsangoverhistearsTothebreezeandtheorange-flower。
Swordinlengthareaping-hookamainHaraldshearedhisfield，blooduptoshank：
’Midtheswathesofslain，Firstatmoonrisedrank。
Thereofhunger，asformeatstheknife，Prickedhisribs，inonesharpspurtoreachHomeandhisyoungwife，Nighthesea-fordbeach。
I
Afterbattlekeentofeedwashe：
Smokingfleshthethresherwasheddownfast，LikeanangryseaShipsfromkeeltomast。
Nameusglory，singer，nameusprideMatchingHarald’sinhisdeedsofstrength；
Chiefs，wife，swordbyside，Foemenstretchedtheirlength!
Halfawinternightthetoastshurrahed，Crownedhim，clothedhim，trumpetedhimhigh，TillawinkhebadeWifetochamberfly。
Twicethesunhadmounted，twicehadsunk，Erehisearstooksound；helayfordead；
Mountainonhistrunk，Oceanonhishead。
Clampedtocouch，hisfieryhearingsuckedWhispersthatatheartmadeiron-clang：
Herefool-womenclucked，Theremenheldharangue。
BurialtofittheirlordofwarTheydecreedhim：hailedthekingling：ha!
Hateful!butthisThorFailedaweaklamb’sbaa。
Kingtheyhailedabranchlet，shapedtofare，Weightedso，likequakingshinglespume，Whenhisblood’sownheirRipenedinthewomb!