Lord Walters Wife
I
But where do you go? said the lady, while both sat uhe yew,
And her eyes were alive in their depth, as the krakeh the sea-blue.
II
Because I fear you, he answered;--because you are far too fair,
And able tle my soul in a mesh of yolfd-coloured hair.
III
Oh that, she said, is no reason! Suots are quickly undone,
And too much beauty, I re, is nothing but too much sun.
IV
Yet farewell so, he answered; --the sunstrokes fatal at times.
I value your husband, Lord Walter, whose galls still from the limes.
V
Oh that, she said, is no reason. You smell a rose through a fence:
If two should smell it what matter? who grumbles, and wheres the pretense?
VI
But I, he replied, have promised another, when love was free,
To love her alone, alone, who alone from afar loves me.
VII
Why, that, she said, is no reason. Loves always free I am told.
Will you vow to be safe from the headache on Tuesday, and think it will hold?
VIII
But you, he replied, have a daughter, a young child, who was laid
In your lap to be pure; so I leave you: the angels would make me afraid."
IX
Oh that, she said, is no reason. The angels keep out of the way;
And Dora, the child, observes nothing, although you should please me and stay.
X
At which he rose up in his anger,--Why now, you no longer are fair!
Why, now, you no longer are fatal, but ugly and hateful, I swear.
XI
At which she laughed out in her s: These men! Oh these men overnice,
Who are shocked if a colour not virtuous is frankly put on by a vice.
XII
Her eyes blazed upon him--And you! Y us your vices so near
That we smell them! You think in our presehought twould defame us to hear!
XIII
What reason had you, and what right,--I appel to your soul from my life,--
To find me so fair as a woman? Why, sir, I am pure, and a wife.
XIV
Is the day-star too fair up above you? It burns you not. Dare you imply
I brushed you more close thaar does, when Walter had set me as high?
XV
If a man finds a woman too fair, he means simply adapted too much
To use unlawful and fatal. The praise! --shall I thank you for such?
XVI
Too fair?--not unless you misuse us! and surely if, on a while,
You attain to it, straightaway you call us no looo fair, but too vile.
XVII
A moment,--I pray your attention!--I have a poor word in my head
I must utter, though womanly would set it dower unsaid.
XVIII
You grew, sir, pale to impertinence, once when I showed you a ring.
You kissed my fan when I dropped it. No matter! Ive brokehing.
XIX
You did me the honour, perhaps, to be moved at my side now and then
In the senses--a vice, I have heard, which is on to beasts and some men.
XX
Loves a virtue for heroes!--as white as the snow on high hills,
And immortal as every great soul is that struggles, endures, and fulfils.
XXI
I love my Walter profoundly,--you, Maude, though you faltered a week,
For the sake of . . . what is it--an eyebrow? or, less still, a mole on the cheek?
XXII
And since, when alls said, youre too o stoop to the frivolous t
About crimes irresistable, virtues that swindle, betray and supplant.
XXIII
I determio prove to yoursel