love misdeem, Were other than the child of hate and hell, The liar first-born of falsehood? ESTRILD. ESTRILD. Nay—I think— God help me!—hardly. Never? can I tell? When half our soul and all our senses sink From dream to dream down deathward, slain with sleep, How may faith hold assurance fast, or keep Her power to cast out fear for love’s sake? LOCRINE. LOCRINE. Could doubt not thee, waking or sleeping. ESTRILD. ESTRILD. No— Thou art not mad. How should the sunlit sky Betray the sun? cast out the sunshine? So Art thou to me as light to heaven: should light Die, were not heaven as hell and noon as night? And wherefore should I hold more dear than life Death? Could I live, and lack thee? Thou, O king, Hast lands and lordships—and a royal wife— And rule of seas that tire the seamew’s wing— And fame as far as fame can travel; I, What have I save this home wherein to die, Except thou love me? Nay, nor home were this, No place to die or live in, were I sure Thou didst not love me. Swear not by this kiss That love lives longer—faith may more endure— Than one poor kiss that passes with the breath Of lips that gave it life at once and death. Why shouldst thou swear, and wherefore should I trust? When day shall drive not night from heaven, and night Shall chase not day to deathward, then shall dust Be constant—and the stars endure the sight Of dawn that shall not slay them. LOCRINE. LOCRINE. By thine eyes —Turned stormier now than stars in bare-blown skies Wherethrough the wind rings menace,—I will swear Nought: so shall fear, mistrust, and jealous hate Lie foodless, if not fangless. Thou, so fair That heaven might change for thee the seal of fate, How darest thou doubt thy power on souls of men? ESTRILD. ESTRILD. What vows were those that won thee Guendolen? LOCRINE.
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