'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, Till the storm die! but had you stood by us, 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 Of female whisperers: at the further end That o'er the statues leapt from head to head, 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 And others otherwhere they laid; and all And chariot, many a maiden passing home Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea; But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee? Ask me no more: what answer should I give ? Yet, O my friend, I will not have thee die ! 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. VII. So was their sanctuary violated, Sweet order lived again with other laws : A kindlier influence reign'd; and everywhere Low voices with the ministering hand Hung round the sick the maidens came, they talk'd, They sang, they read: till she not fair, began To gather light, and she that was, became Her former beauty treble; and to and fro And in their own clear element, they moved. But sadness on the soul of Ida fell, And hatred of her weakness, blent with shame. |