Centred; who was the sun, and I, false wife,

The foolish flower that turns whereso he wheels

Over the broad earth's canopy, and steals

Colour from his strong beam, but at the last

Whenas the night comes and the day is past

Droops, burnt at the heart. So loved I him, and so

Waxed bold to dare the deed that brought this woe."

And there she changed, and bitter was her cry:

"Ah, lord, far better had it been to die

Ere I had cast this pain on thee, and shame

On me, and wrought such outrage on our name.

Natheless I live——"

[42]

"Ay, and give life!" he said;

"Yet this thing more I'd have thee tell—what led

Thy thought to me? From him, what turned thy troth—

Such troth as there could be?"

She cried, "The oath!

The oath ye sware before the Lords of Heaven,

The sacrifice, the pledges taken and given

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