'Ay so,' said Ida with a bitter smile,

'Our laws are broken: let him enter too.'

Then Violet, she that sang the mournful song,
And had a cousin tumbled on the plain,
Petition'd too for him. 'Ay so,' she said,
'I stagger in the stream: I cannot keep
My heart an eddy from the brawling hour

We break our laws with ease, but let it be.'

:

'Ay so?' said Blanche: Amazed am I to hear

Your Highness but your Highness breaks with ease

The law your Highness did not make: 'twas I.

I had been wedded wife, I knew mankind,

And block'd them out; but these men came to woo Your Highness-verily I think to win.'

So she, and turn'd askance a wintry eye :

But Ida with a voice, that like a bell

Toll'd by an earthquake in a trembling tower,

Rang ruin, answer'd full of grief and scorn.

'Fling our doors wide! all, all, not one, but all,

Not only he, but by my mother's soul,

Whatever man lies wounded, friend or foe,
Shall enter, if he will. Let our girls flit,

Till the storm die! but had you stood by us,
The roar that breaks the Pharos from his base
Had left us rock. She fain would sting us too,
But shall not. Pass, and mingle with your likes.
We brook no further insult but are gone.'

She turn'd; the very nape of her white neck Was rosed with indignation: but the Prince Her brother came; the king her father charm'd Her wounded soul with words: nor did mine own Refuse her proffer, lastly gave his hand.

Then us they lifted up, dead weights, and bare Straight to the doors: to them the doors gave way Groaning, and in the Vestal entry shriek'd

The virgin marble under iron heels :

And on they moved and gain'd the hall, and there
Rested but great the crush was, and each base,
To left and right, of those tall columns drown'd
In silken fluctuation and the swarm

Of female whisperers: at the further end

Was Ida by the throne, the two great cats
Close by her, like supporters on a shield,
Bow-back'd with fear: but in the centre stood
The common men with rolling eyes; amazed
They glared upon the women, and aghast
The women stared at these, all silent, save
When armour clash'd or jingled, while the day,
Descending, struck athwart the hall, and shot
A flying splendour out of brass and steel,

That o'er the statues leapt from head to head,
Now fired an angry Pallas on the helm,
Now set a wrathful Dian's moon on flame,

And now and then an echo started up,

And shuddering fled from room to room, and died Of fright in far apartments.

Then the voice

Of Ida sounded, issuing ordinance :

And me they bore up the broad stairs, and thro' The long-laid galleries past a hundred doors

To one deep chamber shut from sound, and due
To languid limbs and sickness; left me in it;

And others otherwhere they laid; and all
That afternoon a sound arose of hoof

And chariot, many a maiden passing home
Till happier times; but some were left of those
Held sagest, and the great lords out and in,
From those two hosts that lay beside the walls,
Walk'd at their will, and everything was changed.

Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea;

The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape,

With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape;

But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee?
Ask me no more.

Ask me no more: what answer should I give ?
I love not hollow cheek or faded eye:

Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die !
Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live ;
Ask me no more.

Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd:

I strove against the stream and all in vain : Let the great river take me to the main : No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield; Ask me no more.