 | Love-Lore (1895) |  |
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NIGHT AND MORNING
NIGHT—
Now is the house asleep, and I may climb
To my hope's heaven. You are trembling, Love!
—My maid lies in the chamber next to mine,
And she sleeps lightly.
To my hope's heaven. You are trembling, Love!
—My maid lies in the chamber next to mine,
And she sleeps lightly.
—She will never hear
Our kisses.
Our kisses.
—What if she were sick, or fear'd,
And came to seek me, lying in your arms?
It may not be. I dare not. What is that?
—A mouse in the wainscot. There's no need of fear.
When may this fortunate hour return again?
Your husband absent, none suspecting us.
Kiss me again, and come! Is this your tryst?
—My tryst! There was another trysting-time
He trusts me still, and I: I loved him once.
I thought so, till you came.
And came to seek me, lying in your arms?
It may not be. I dare not. What is that?
—A mouse in the wainscot. There's no need of fear.
When may this fortunate hour return again?
Your husband absent, none suspecting us.
Kiss me again, and come! Is this your tryst?
—My tryst! There was another trysting-time
He trusts me still, and I: I loved him once.
I thought so, till you came.
—But now your love
Is mine.
Is mine.
—And should you change as I have done.
My God! I who am false. You'ld have me so?
—Not false, but true unto the higher truth,
Your love for me: your heart's truth known at last.
—I dare not. O, I dare not. Say good night!
And leave me!
My God! I who am false. You'ld have me so?
—Not false, but true unto the higher truth,
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—I dare not. O, I dare not. Say good night!
And leave me!
—Did you appoint me but for this?
Nay! but we part not so.
Nay! but we part not so.
—I will call out.
—And tell the household what hath frighted you?
Tell the occasion made to fetch me here,
And of our yet moist kisses? Say, so far
You ventured, found it pleasant; on the brink
(Good husband will not mind that) you drew back,
Fearing the deeper current?
—And tell the household what hath frighted you?
Tell the occasion made to fetch me here,
And of our yet moist kisses? Say, so far
You ventured, found it pleasant; on the brink
(Good husband will not mind that) you drew back,
Fearing the deeper current?
—You are hard.
—As you who loving would deny your love.
You love me. The swift hour asks why we wait.
—You would not force me?
—You miscall it force
—As you who loving would deny your love.
You love me. The swift hour asks why we wait.
—You would not force me?
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:
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—(As she throws herself on her bed,)
And I do love him. God be merciful!
MORNING—
Return'd already? Sure, I thought to-day
Given to fond epitaphs on joys self-slain.
The inconvenient husband, was he home
Too soon for moral lie-abeds? But say,
How fares the fair Bianca? Lost in tears,
Rain of Love's Morning after a close night?
—Are you a gentleman?
Given to fond epitaphs on joys self-slain.
The inconvenient husband, was he home
Too soon for moral lie-abeds? But say,
How fares the fair Bianca? Lost in tears,
Rain of Love's Morning after a close night?
—Are you a gentleman?
—Well, it may be.
—I pray you then repeat no more her name
Coupled with my desires.
—I pray you then repeat no more her name
Coupled with my desires.
—Shifts the wind so?
Cupid! a most proud lover! Now, I'll bet
She has jilted you at last. 'Tis so, 'tis so.
A little dreg of virtue left in the flask,
Has spoil'd a night-draught. She would yet will not.
And hesitating, opportunity
Has sent you back: the husband none the worse.
—You're slow to take my meaning.
Cupid! a most proud lover! Now, I'll bet
She has jilted you at last. 'Tis so, 'tis so.
A little dreg of virtue left in the flask,
Has spoil'd a night-draught. She would yet will not.
And hesitating, opportunity
Has sent you back: the husband none the worse.
—You're slow to take my meaning.
—So, you ask
Am I a gentleman? And your good friend.
I would be sorry too, but your mishap
You have not told me. Only by your looks,
Which intimate you have not been quite in luck.
Why, man! you can but try again and have.
Another night—
Am I a gentleman? And your good friend.
I would be sorry too, but your mishap
You have not told me. Only by your looks,
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Why, man! you can but try again and have.
Another night—
—I pray you, Sir! have done.
A virtuous lady—
A virtuous lady—
—Very good, i' faith.
A virtuous lady (most respectful phrase)
Stays you in the antechamber of her hope.
We know the angler's craft.
A virtuous lady (most respectful phrase)
Stays you in the antechamber of her hope.
We know the angler's craft.
—Peace! peace! your thought
Is slanderous, false as Hell. That lady's soul
Is spotless.
Is slanderous, false as Hell. That lady's soul
Is spotless.
—You were disappointed then.
Pshaw, man! she does but hold you off, the more
To contemplate your longing. She is like
The rest of them.
Pshaw, man! she does but hold you off, the more
To contemplate your longing. She is like
The rest of them.
—By the All-living Truth,
If you repeat that, I will write it false
In your heart's blood. Draw, and defend yourself!
—Not I, against a madman baulk'd in love.
The woman's chaste because she bids him wait.
Well, some of us are fools. I can but laugh.
And so, Good-morning and next time more speed!
If you repeat that, I will write it false
In your heart's blood. Draw, and defend yourself!
—Not I, against a madman baulk'd in love.
The woman's chaste because she bids him wait.
Well, some of us are fools. I can but laugh.
And so, Good-morning and next time more speed!
| Love-Lore (1895) | |