He added, lest some classic Angel speak To tumble, Vulcans, on the second morn. But I will melt this marble into wax To yield us farther furlough: and he went. Melissa shook her doubtful curls, and thought He scarce would prosper. 'Tell us,' Florian ask'd, 'How grew this feud betwixt the right and left.' 'O long ago,' she said, 'betwixt these two Division smoulders hidden: 'tis my mother, Pent in a crevice: much I bear with her : I never knew my father, but she says And still she rail'd against the state of things. She had the care of Lady Ida's youth, And from the Queen's decease she brought her up. But when your sister came she won the heart Of Ida: they were still together, grew (For so they said themselves) inosculated; One mind in all things: yet my mother still Then murmur'd Florian gazing after her. Her blushing was, and how she blush'd again, Not like your Princess cramm'd with erring pride, The crane,' I said, 'may chatter of the crane, The dove may murmur of the dove, but I An eagle clang an eagle to the sphere. My princess, O my princess! true she errs, But in her own grand way: being herself Three times more noble than threescore of men, She sees herself in every woman else, And so she wears her error like a crown To blind the truth and me: for her, and her, Hebes are they to hand ambrosia, mix The nectar; but-ah she-whene'er she moves The Samian Herè rises and she speaks A Memnon smitten with the morning Sun. So saying from the court we paced, and gain'd The terrace ranged along the Northern front, And leaning there on those balusters, high Above the empurpled champaign, drank the gale That blown about the foliage underneath, And sated with the innumerable rose, Beat balm upon our eyelids. Hither came Cyril, and yawning O hard task,' he cried, 'Better to clear prime forests, heave and thump A league of street in summer solstice down, I knock'd and, bidden, enter'd; found her there And why we came ? I fabled nothing fair, Up went the hush'd amaze of hand and eye. I urged the fierce inscription on the gate, True-we had limed ourselves With open eyes, and we must take the chance. But such extremes, I told her, well might harm The woman's cause. "Not more than now," she said, "So puddled as it is with favouritism.” I tried the mother's heart. Shame might befal Melissa, knowing, saying not she knew: Her answer was "Leave me to deal with that." I spoke of war to come and many deaths, And she replied, her duty was to speak, May beat admission in a thousand years, I recommenced; “Decide not ere you pause. And your great name flow on with broadening time For ever. Well, she balanced this a little, And told me she would answer us to-day, Meantime be mute: thus much, nor more I gain'd.' |