 | Love-Lore (1895) |  |
—You miscall it force
When love at heart consents. I would but spare
Your timorous conscience, making mine the blame.
—For honour, if you love me, let me pass!
—You have given yourself to me and you are mine,
My own. Your love acknowledges my right.
—I do not love you. He I loved was one
Who lured me by his very nobleness:
A king to claim allegiance. You are not
The man I loved. You would lay shame on me
For your vile pleasure. I could loathe you now.
—Is it so? Then honour lift me up again
To the former height! O thou Belovèd One!
I would not wrong you. But your chamberlain:
Not past your chamber door. And now, good night!
—(As she throws herself on her bed,)
And I do love him. God be merciful!
When love at heart consents. I would but spare
Your timorous conscience, making mine the blame.
—For honour, if you love me, let me pass!
—You have given yourself to me and you are mine,
My own. Your love acknowledges my right.
—I do not love you. He I loved was one
Who lured me by his very nobleness:
A king to claim allegiance. You are not
The man I loved. You would lay shame on me
For your vile pleasure. I could loathe you now.
—Is it so? Then honour lift me up again
To the former height! O thou Belovèd One!
I would not wrong you. But your chamberlain:
129
—(As she throws herself on her bed,)
And I do love him. God be merciful!
| Love-Lore (1895) | |