OnefairestoftheripeunweddedleftHershadowontheSage’spath；hefound，Bycommonsigns，thatshehaddoneatheft。
HecouldhavemadethesovereignheightsresoundWithquestionsofthewhereforeofherstate：
HeonfarotherbutanhourbeforeIntent。Andwasitman，orwasitmate，Thatshedisdained？orwastherehaplymore？
AbouthermouthaplacidhumourslippedThedimple，asyouseesmoothlakesateveSpreadmeltingringswherelateaswallowdipped。
Thesurfacewasattentetorecee，Thesecretunderneathenfoldedfast。
Shehadthestepoftheunconquered，brave，Notarrogant；andifthevessel’smastWavedliberty，nochallengediditwave。
Hereyeswerethesweetworlddesiredofsouls，Withsomethingofawaveringlineunspelt。
TheyholdthelookwhosetendernesscondolesForwhatthesisterinthelookhasdealtOffatalbeyondhealing；andhertonesAwoman’shoneyedamorousouted，Aswheninadroppedolthewood-throbmoansAmongthesobbingstrings，thatplainandchideLikeinfantsforthemselves，lessdeeptothrillThanthoserichmother-notesforthembreathedround。
ThosevoicesarenotmagicofthewillTostrikelove’swound，butoflove’swoundgesound，Conveyingit；theyearnings，painsanddreams。
Theywafttothemoisttropicsafterstorm，Whenoutofpassionspentthickincensesteams，Andjewel-beltedcloudsthewrecktransform。
WasneverhandonbrushorlyretopaintHergraciousmanners，wherethenuptialringOfmelodyclaspedmotioninrestraint：
Thereed-bladewiththebreezethereofmaysing。
WithsuchendowmentsarmedwassheanddeckedTomakeherspokenthoughtseclipseherkind；
Surpassingmanyagiantintellect，Themarvelofthatcradledinfantmind。
Itclenchedthetinyfist，itcurledthetoe；
Cherubiclaughed，enticed，dispensed，absorbed；
AndpromisedinfairfemininetogrowASage’smatchandmate，moreheavenlyorbed。
AcrosshispaththespouselessLadycastHershadow，andthemanthatthingbecame。
HisyouthuprisingcalledhisagethePast。
Thiswasthestronggreyheadoflaurelledname，AndinhisbosomaninvertedSageMistookforlightofmornthelightwhichsank。
ButwhowhileveinsrunbloodshallknowthepageSucceedingereweturnuponourblank？
ComesBeautywithhertaleofmoonandcloud，HersilveredrimsofmysterypointinginTohollowsofthehalf-veiledunavowed，Wherebeatshersecretlife，greyheadswillspinQuickastheyoung，andspellthosehieroglyphsOfphosphorescentdusk，devoutlybent；
TheydrinkacuptowhirlondizziercliffsFortheirshamedfall，whichasks，whywasshesent!
Why，andofwhom，andwhence；andtelltheytruth，Thelegendsofhermissiontobeguile？
HardlikenesstothetoilfulapesofyouthHeboreattimes，andtemptedtheslysmile；
Andnotonhersoftlipswasitdescried。
Shesteppedherwaybenevolentlygrave：
NorsignthatBeautyfedherwormofpride，Bytossingctimtothecourtierknave，Letpeep，norofthenaughtypridegavesign。
Rather’twashumblenessinbeingpursued，Aspilgrimtothetempleofashrine。
Hadhenotwitstopiercethemaskhewooed？
Allwisdom’sarmourythismancouldwield；
AndifthecynicintheSageitpleasedTraverseherwoman’scurtainandpoorshield，Fornewexampleofaworlddiseased；
Showinghershrineless，notatemple，bare；
Acurtainrippedtotattersbytheblast；
Yetshemostsurelytothismanstoodfair：
Heworshippedliketheyoungenthusiast，Namedsimpletonorpoet。DidhereadRightthrough，andwiththevoicesheheldreservedAmidhervacantruinsjointlyplead？
CompassionforthemanthusnoblenervedThepityforherselfshefeltinhim，Towreakadeedofsacrifice，andsave；
Atleast，beworthy。Thatoursoulmayswim，Wesinkourheartdownbubblingunderwave。
Itbubblestillitdropsamongthewrecks。
But，ah!confessionofawoman’sbreast：
Sheeminent，shehonouredofhersex!
Truthspeaks，andtakesthespotsoftheconfessed，Toveilthem。Noneofwomen，savetheirle，Playstraitortoanarmyinthefield。
Thecriesmostndicatingmostdefile。
HowshallacausetoNaturebeappealed，When，underpressureoftheircommonfoe，HersistersshuntheMotheranddisown，OnpainofhisintolerablecrowAbovethefiction，builtforhim，o’erthrown？
Irrationalheis，irrationalMusttheybe，thoughnotReason’slightshallwaneInthemwitheverNatureatclosecall，Behindthefictiontorturingtosustain；
Whohearherinthemilk，andsometimesmakeAtonguelessanswer，sheredonasigh：
Whereatmendreadtheirloftystructure’squakeOncemore，andintheirhostsfortocsinplyThecrazyroarofperil，leonineForinjuredmajesty。ThatsighofdamesIsrareandsoonsuppressed。NottheycombineToshakethestructureshelteringthem，whichtamesTheirlustierifnotwilder：fedarethey，Inelegancyscarcedenotingease；
Anddotheybreathe，itisnottobetrayThemartyrinthecaryatides。
YethereandtherealongthegracefulrowIsonewhofetchesbreathfromdeeps，whodeems，Movedbyadesperatecrang，theiroldfoeMayyieldatrustierfriendthanwomanseems，AndaidtobearthesculpturedfloralweightMasseduponheadsnotutterlyofstone：
Maystampendurancebyexpoundingfate。
Sheturnedtohim，and，Thisyouseekisgone；
Lookin，shesaid，aspantsthefurnace，brief，Frost-white。ShegavehishearingsighttoewThesilentchamberofabrowncurledleaf：
Thingthathadthrobbedereshotblacklightningthrough。
Nofurthersignofheartcouldhediscern：
Thepictureofherspeechwaswintersky；
Aheadlessfigurefoldingaclefturn，Wheretearsonceattheoverflowweredry。
I
Sospakesheherfirstutteranceontherack。
Itsoftenedtorment，inthefuneralhuesRoundwanRomanceatebb，butdroveherbackTolistentoherself，herselfaccuseHarshlyasLove’simperialcauseallowed。
Shemeanttogrovel，andherloverpraisedSohigho’erthecondemnatorycrowd，Thatsheperforceafellowphoenblazed。
Thepicturewasofhandfastjoinedtohand，Bothpushedfromangryskies，theirgraspmorepledgedUnderthethreatenedflashofabrightbrandAtarm’slengthup，forseveringactionedged。
Why，thenLove’sCourtofHonourcontemplate；
Andtwodrownedshorecasts，who，forthelifeesteemedAbovetheirlost，invokeanadvocateInPassion’spurity，therebyredeemed。
Redeemed，uplifted，glimmeringonathrone，Thewomanstrickenbyanarrowfalls。
Hisadvocateshecanbe，notherown，If，Traitresstothysex!onesistercalls。
Havewesuchscenesofdrapery’smournfulnessOnBeauty’srevelations，witchedweplant，Overthefairshapehumbledtoconfess，Anangel’sbuckler，withloudchoiricchant。
Noknightlyswordtoserve，norharpofbard，Thelady’shandinherphysician’sknew。
Shehadnothopedforthemasheraward，Whenzig-zagonthetongueelectricflewHerchargeofcounter-motes，noneimpure：
Butmutenesswhippedherskin。Shecouldhavesaid，Herfreeconfessionwastoworkhiscure，Showproofsforwhyshecouldnotloveorwed。
Weretheynotshown？HismutenessshookinthrallHerbodyonthevergeofthatblackpitSheerfromthetreacherousconfessional，Demandingfurther，whileperusingit。
Slaveistheopenmouthbeneaththeclosed。
Shesank；shesnatchedatcolours；theywerepeelOffruitpastsavour，inderisionrosed。
Forthedarkdownwardthenhersouldidreel。
Apressofhideousimpulseurgedtospeak：
Anoveldreadofmanenchainedherdumb。
Shefeltthesilencethicken，hearditshriek，HeardLifesubsidingontheeternalhum：
Welcometowomen，when，betweenman’slawsAndNature’sthirsts，they，soulfrombodytorn，Gesuckatbreasttoacelestialcause，Namedbythemouthinfernal，andforsworn。
Nathlessherforeheadtwitchedasadcontent，Tothinkthecuresomanifest，sofrailHercharmremaining。Wasthecurtain’srentToowide？hebutamanofthatherdmale？
ShesawhimasthatherdoftheforkedheadButtingthewomanharrowedonherknees，Clothedonlyinlife’slastdevouringred。
ConfessionatherfearfulinstantseesJudicialSilencewritethedelfactInlettersoftheskeleton：atonce，Swayedonthesupplicationofheract，Therabblereading，roaringtodenounce，Shejoins。Nolongercolouring，withskipsAttangles，picturethatforeyesintearsMightswimthesequence，sheaddressedherlipsTodothescaffold’sofficeathisears。
IntothebitterjudgementofthatherdOnwomen，she，deemingitpresent，fell。
HerfrenzyofabasementhuggedthewordTheystonewith，andsopiletheircitadelTolaunchatoutcaststhefoullenbolt。
Ashadheflungit，inherbreastitburned。
FaceandreflectitdidherhotrevoltFromhardness，tothewrithingrebelturned；
Becausethegoldenbucklerwaswithheld，Shetoherselfappliesthepowder-spark，Forjoyofonewilddemonbursterequelled，PerishingtoastoundthetyrantDark。
ShehadtheScripturalwordsoscoredonbrain，Itrangthroughairtosky，androckedaworldThatdanceddownshadesthescarletdanceprofane；
Mostwomen!see!bytheman’sewdustwardhurled，Impenitent，submisse，tornintwo。
Theysinkupontheirnature，theunnamed，Andsopsofnourishmentmaygetsomefew，Inplaceofunderstanding，scourgedandshamed。
BarelyhaveseasonedwomenunderstoodThegreatIrrational，whothunderspower，DresNaturetoherprimitewildwood，Andcourtsherinthecovert’sdewyhour；
Returningtohisfortressnighnight’send，Withexecrationofherdaughters’lures。
Theyhelphimtheproudfortresstodefend，Norseewhatfrontitwears，whatlifeimmures，Themurderitcommits；northatitsbaseIsshiftyasahuckster’sopeningdealForbargainundersmoothestmarketface，WhileGentlenessbidsfrigidJusticefeel，JusticeproteststhatReasonisherseat；
ElectConvenience，asReasonmasked，HearscalmlycrampedHumanityentreat；
Untilasentientworldisovertasked，AndrousesReason’sfountain-self：shecallsOnNature；Natureanswers：ShareyourguiltIncommonwhencontentioncracksthewallsOfthebighousewhichnotonmeisbuilt。
TheLadysaidasmuchasbreathwillbear；
Tohappiersistersinconceable：
Contemptibletoveteransofthefair，Whoshowforaconvolngpearlyshell，Atreasureoftheshore，theirwrittenbook。
Asmuchaswoman’sbreathwillbearandleShapedshetowordsbeneathaknottedlook，Thatheldasifforgrainthesummingsieve。
Herjudgenowbrightenedwithoutpause，aswakesOurhomelydaylightafterdreadofspells。
LipssugaredtoletloosethelittlesnakesOfslimylustresringingelfinbellsAboutastoryofthenakedflesh，Intendingbuttoputsomegarmenton，Shouldlearn，thatinthesubjecttheyenmesh，Atraitorlurksandwillbeknownanon。
Delusionheatingpricksthetorpiddoubt，Stationedforindexdownanancienttrack：
AndwareofitwashewhileshepouredoutAbrokenmoononforest-watersblack。
ThoughpastthestagewheremidwaymenareskilledToscantheirsenseswrigglingunderplough，Whenyettothecharmedseedofspeechdistilled，Theirheartsarefallow，he，andwitlesshow，Loathing，hadyielded，likebruisedlimbtoleech，Nothandsomely；butnowbeholdingbleedSoulofthewomaninherprostratespeech，Thevalourofthatrawnesshecouldread。
Thenceflashedit，asthecrimsoncurrentsranFromsensesuptothoughts，howshehadreadMaternallythewarmremaindermanBeneathhiscrust，andNature’spityshed，Insheddingdearerthanheart’sbloodtolightHissionofthepathmildWisdomwalks。
TherewithhecouldespyConfession’sfright；
Herneedofhim：theseflowersgrowonstalks；
Theysuckfromsoil，andhavetheirurgenciesBesideandwiththelovelyfacemidleaves。