That surely she will tell you; if not, then I. Did she? these monsters blazon'd what they were For thus I hear; and known at last (my work) I grant in her the merit of shame, she flies; I, that have wasted here health, wealth and time Divorced from my experience, will be chaff We did not know the real light, but chased She ceased the Princess answer'd coldly, 'Good: Your oath is broken: we dismiss you go. For this lost lamb (she pointed to the child) Our mind is changed: we assume it to ourselves.' Thereat the Lady stretch'd a vulture throat, "The plan was mine. I built the nest,' she said, A liquid look on Ida, full of prayer, Which melted Florian's fancy as she hung, A Niobëan daughter, one arm out, Appealing to the bolts of Heaven; and while About the doors, and on a sudden ran in Among us, all out of breath, as pursued, A woman-post in flying raiment. Fear Stared in her eyes, and chalk'd her face, and wing'd Her transit to the throne, whereby she fell Delivering seal'd dispatches, which the Head Took half-amaz'd and in her lion's mood Tore open, silent we with blind surmise Regarding, while she read, till over brow 88 And cheek and bosom brake the wrathful bloom As of some fire against a stormy cloud, When the wild peasant rights himself, and the rick In the dead hush the papers that she held Rustle at once the lost lamb at her feet The plaintive cry jarr'd on her ire; she crush'd As if to speak, but, utterance failing her, She whirl'd them on to me, as who should say 'Fair daughter, when we sent the Prince your way We knew not your ungracious laws, which learnt, We, conscious of what temper you are built, Came all in haste to hinder wrong, but fell Into his father's hands, who has this night, Slipt round and in the dark invested you, And here he keeps me hostage for his son.' The second was my father's, running thus: 'You have our son: touch not a hair of his head: Deliver him up unscathed: give him your hand : You hold the woman is the better man ; A rampant heresy, such as if it spread Would make all women kick against their Lords Thro' all the world, and which might well deserve That we this night should pluck your palace down; And we will do it, unless you send us back Our son, on the instant, whole.' So far I read ; And then stood up and spoke impetuously: "O not to pry and peer on your reserve, But led by golden wishes and a hope The child of legal compact, did I break From the flaxen curl to the gray lock a life Less mine than yours: my nurse would tell me of you; I babbled for you, as babies for the moon, Vague brightness; when a boy, you stoop'd to me From all high places, lived in all fair lights, Came in long breezes rapt from the inmost south, And blown to the inmost north; at eve and dawn With Ida, Ida, Ida, rang the woods; The leader wildswan in among the stars Would clang it, and lapt in wreaths of glowworm light The mellow breaker murmur'd Ida. Now, Because I would have reach'd you, tho' you had been Sphered up with Cassiopeia, or the enthroned Persephone in Hades, now at length, |