 | Poems and Sonnets |  |
24
HARMONIA AND THE HANDMAIDEN.
A sweet handmaiden Poesy had sentTo lead her servant to the palace-gates,
But she herself within the entrance waits,
On a most gracious interviewing bent,
And he was half aware of her intent,
But on the thither road he fell in love
With the handmaiden, and preferred the dove
To the Paradise-bird for his approval meant;
Here was a mess! Harmonia held him fast,
He, like a child, to the handmaiden clung,
And jealous heart of Poesy he stung
By screaming, all his spirit backward cast,
“Not you, old woman, her I love,” and flung
His form convulsed away from her at last!
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