Dramatic Scenes With Other Poems, Now First Printed. By Barry Cornwall [i.e. Bryan Waller Procter]. Illustrated |
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TO A FOREIGN ACTRESS. |
 | Dramatic Scenes |  |
TO A FOREIGN ACTRESS.
What shall I do to please you?
To flatter, to woo, to win?
Shall I buy your body with money?
Shall I tempt your soul with sin?
To flatter, to woo, to win?
Shall I buy your body with money?
Shall I tempt your soul with sin?
Shall I build up heroic poems,
And force your name on high?
Shall I rush in the Hell of battle,
With your name as a conquering cry?
And force your name on high?
Shall I rush in the Hell of battle,
With your name as a conquering cry?
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Shall I shoot the untrodden desert?
Shall I twine with my own your name,
In some glory yet unascended?
In some terrible endless fame?
Shall I twine with my own your name,
In some glory yet unascended?
In some terrible endless fame?
I see that your eyes are a serpent's:
I know that your heart is stone;
That your love is as false as deadly;
And yet—I am yours alone!
I know that your heart is stone;
That your love is as false as deadly;
And yet—I am yours alone!
Witch—Serpent—pitiless—worthless—
Look down, where I writhe and sigh!
Speak! What must I do—or suffer?—
You hiss out an answer—“Die!”
Look down, where I writhe and sigh!
Speak! What must I do—or suffer?—
You hiss out an answer—“Die!”
| Dramatic Scenes | |