Hail thou!" On his own eloquence he grows

The lover he proclaims. "O love," he saith,

"I would not leave thee for a moment's breath,

Nor once these ten long years had left thy side

Had it been possible to stay!"

She sighed,

She wondered o'er his face, she looked her fill,

Museful, still doubting, smiling half, athrill,

All virgin to his praise. "O wonderful,"

She said, "Such store of love for one so foul

As I am now!"

O fatal hot-and-cold,

[29]

O love, whose iris wings not long can hold

The upper air! Sudden her thought smote hot

On him. "Thou sayest! True it is, God wot!

Warm from his bed, and tears for thy unworth;

Warm from his bed, and tears to meet my mirth;

Then back to his bed ere yet thy tears be dry!"

She heard not, but she knew his agony

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