That were there any of our people there In want or peril, there was one to hear And help them: look! for such are these and I.' Are you that Psyche' Florian ask'd to whom, In gentler days, your arrow-wounded fawn Came flying while you sat beside the well? And sobb'd, and you sobb'd with it, and the blood That was fawn's blood, not brother's, yet you wept. O by the bright head of my little niece, You were that Psyche, and what are you now?' You are that Psyche' Cyril said again, The mother of the sweetest little maid, That ever crow'd for kisses.' • Out upon it! She answer'd, 'peace! and why should I not play The Spartan Mother with emotion, be The Lucius Junius Brutus of my kind? Him you call great he for the common weal, As I might slay this child, if good need were, Slew both his sons: and I, shall I, on whom Of half this world, be swerved from right to save O hard, when love and duty clash! I fear My conscience will not count me fleckless; yet- You perish) as you came to slip away, To-day, to-morrow, soon: it shall be said, These women were too barbarous, would not learn ; They fled, who might have shamed us: promise, all.' What could we else, we promised each; and she, Like some wild creature newly-caged, commenced A to-and-fro, so pacing till she paused By Florian; holding out her lily arms Took both his hands, and smiling faintly said: 'I knew you at the first: tho' you have grown My needful seeming harshness, pardon it. Our mother, is she well?' With that she kiss'd His forehead, then, a moment after, clung About him, and betwixt them blossom'd up From out a common vein of memory Sweet household talk, and phrases of the hearth, And far allusion, till the gracious dews Began to glisten and to fall and while They stood, so rapt, we gazing, came a voice, 'I brought a message here from Lady Blanche.' Back started she, and turning round we saw The Lady Blanche's daughter where she stood, Melissa, with her hand upon the lock, A rosy blonde, and in a college gown That clad her like an April daffodilly (Her mother's colour) with her lips apart, And all her thoughts as fair within her eyes, As bottom agates seen to wave and float In crystal currents of clear morning seas. So stood that same fair creature at the door. Then Lady Psyche Ah-Melissa-you! You heard us?' and Melissa, O pardon me! Nor think I bear that heart within my breast, To give three gallant gentlemen to death.' This whole foundation ruin, and I lose My honour, these their lives.' Ah, fear me not' Replied Melissa 'no-I would not tell, No, not for all Aspasia's cleverness, No, not to answer, Madam, all those hard things That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.' 'Be it so' the other that we still may lead The new light up, and culminate in peace, For Solomon may come to Sheba yet.' 6 Said Cyril Madam, he the wisest man Feasted the woman wisest then, in halls (Tho' madam you should answer, we would ask) Among us, debtors for our lives to you, Myself for something more.' He said not what, But 'Thanks,' she answer'd 'go: we have been too long Together keep your hoods about the face; They do so that affect abstraction here. Speak little; mix not with the rest; and hold Your promise all, I trust, may yet be well.' |