That laughed for love against his lips, and bade

Follow; and in following all his blood grew glad

[Pg 307]

And as again a sea-bird's; for the wind

Took him to bathe him deep round breast and brow

Not as it takes a dead leaf drained and thinned,

But as the brightest bay-flower blown on bough,

Set springing toward it singing: and they rode

By many a vine-leafed, many a rose-hung road,

Exalt with exultation; many a night

Set all its stars upon them as for spies

On many a moon-bewildering mountain-height

Where he rode only by the fierier light

Of his dread lady's hot sweet hungering eyes.

For the moon wandered witless of her way,

Spell-stricken by strong magic in such wise

As wizards use to set the stars astray.

And in his ears the music that makes mad

Beat always; and what way the music bade,

That alway rode he; nor was any sleep

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