A league of street in summer solstice down,

Than hammer at this reverend gentlewoman.

I knock'd and, bidden, enter'd; found her there
At point to move, and settled in her eyes
The green malignant light of coming storm.
Sir, I was courteous, every phrase well-oil'd,

As man could be; yet maiden-meek I pray'd
Concealment she demanded who we were,

And why we came ? I fabled nothing fair,
But, your example pilot, told her all.

Up went the hush'd amaze of hand and eye.
But when I dwelt upon your old affiance,
She answer'd sharply that I talk'd astray.

I urged the fierce inscription on the gate,
And our three lives.

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,

And duty duty, clear of consequences.

I grew discouraged, Sir; but since I knew

No rock so hard but that a little wave

May beat admission in a thousand years,

I recommenced ; "Decide not ere you pause.

I find you here but in the second place
Some say the third—the authentic foundress you.

I offer boldly we will seat you highest :
Wink at our advent: help my prince to gain
His rightful bride, and here I promise you
Some palace in our land, where you shall reign
The head and heart of all our fair she-world,

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.'

He ceasing, came a message from the Head.

That afternoon the Princess rode to take

The dip of certain strata to the North.

Would we go with her? we should find the land
Worth seeing; and the river made a fall
Out yonder' then she pointed on to where
A double hill ran up his dark-blue forks
Beyond the full-leaved platans of the vale.

She stood

Agreed to, this, the day fled on thro' all Its range of duties to the appointed hour. Then summon'd to the porch we went. Among her maidens, higher by the head, Her back against a pillar, her foot on one Of those tame leopards. Kittenlike he roll'd And paw'd about her sandal. I drew near: My heart beat thick with passion and with awe, And from my breast the involuntary sigh Brake, as she smote me with the light of eyes

That lent my knee desire to kneel, and shook

My pulses, till to horse we clomb, and so
Went forth in long retinue following up
The river as it narrow'd to the hills.

I rode beside her and to me she said:
O friend, we trust that you esteem'd us not
Too harsh to your companion yestermorn;
Unwillingly we spake.' 'No-not to her,'

I answer'd, but to one of whom we spake

Your Highness might have seem'd the thing you say.'

'Again?' she cried are you ambassadresses

From him to me? we give you, being strange,

A license speak, and let the topic die.'

I stammer'd that I knew him-could have wish'd

Our king expects-was there no precontract-
There is no truer-hearted-ah, you seem

All he prefigured, and he could not see
The bird of passage flying south but long'd
To follow surely, if your Highness keep

Your purport, you will shock him ev'n to death,

Or baser courses, children of despair.'

'Poor boy' she said 'can he not read-no books? Quoit, tennis, ball-no games? nor deals in that

Which men delight in, martial exercises?

To nurse a blind ideal like a girl,

Methinks he seems no better than a girl ;

As girls were once, as we ourselves have been:

We had our dreams; perhaps he mixt with them : We touch on our dead self, nor shun to do it,

Being other since we learnt our meaning here,
To lift the woman's fall'n divinity

Upon an even pedestal with man.'

She paused, and added with a haughtier smile

And as to precontracts, we move, my friend,

At no man's beck, but know ourselves and thee,

O Vashti, noble Vashti! Summon'd out

She kept her state, and left the drunken king

To brawl at Shushan underneath the palms.'