 | Collected poems |  |
63
THE SECRETS OF THE HEART
“Le cœur mène où il va.”
Scene.—A Chalet covered with Honeysuckle.
Ninette. Ninon.
Ninette.
This way—
Ninon.
No, this way—
Ninette.
This way, then. (They enter the Chalet.)
You are as changing, Child,—as Men.
Ninon.
But are they? Is it true, I mean?
Who said it?
Ninette.
Sister Séraphine.
She was so pious and so good,
With such sad eyes beneath her hood,
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Her name was Eugénie la Fère.
She used to tell us,—moonlight nights,—
When I was at the Carmelites.
Ninon.
Ah, then it must be right. And yet,
Suppose for once—suppose, Ninette—
Ninette.
But what?
Ninon.
Suppose it were not so?
Suppose there were true men, you know!
Ninette.
And then?
Ninon.
Why, if that could occur,
What kind of man should you prefer?
Ninette.
What looks, you mean?
Ninon.
Looks, voice and all.
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Well, as to that, he must be tall,
Or say, not “tall,”—of middle size;
And next, he must have laughing eyes,
And a hook-nose,—with, underneath,
O! what a row of sparkling teeth!
Ninon
(touching her cheek suspiciously).
Has he a scar on this side?
Ninette.
Hush!
Some one is coming. No; a thrush:
I see it swinging there.
Ninon.
Go on.
Ninette.
Then he must fence, (ah, look, 'tis gone!)
And dance like Monseigneur, and sing
“Love was a Shepherd”:—everything
I have sometimes fancied that the song referred to must have run in this wise:—
When this old world was new,
Before the towns were made,
Love was a shepherd too.
Before the towns were made,
Love was a shepherd too.
Clear-eyed as flowers men grew,
Of evil unafraid,
When this old world was new.
Of evil unafraid,
When this old world was new.
No skill had they to woo,
Who but their hearts obey'd—
Love was a shepherd too.
Who but their hearts obey'd—
Love was a shepherd too.
What need to feign or sue!
Not thus was life delay'd
When this old world was new.
Not thus was life delay'd
When this old world was new.
Under the cloudless blue
They kiss'd their shepherd-maid—
Love was a shepherd too.
They kiss'd their shepherd-maid—
Love was a shepherd too.
They knew but joy; they knew
No pang of Love decay'd:
When this old world was new,
Love was a shepherd too.
No pang of Love decay'd:
When this old world was new,
Love was a shepherd too.
That men do. Tell me yours, Ninon.
Ninon.
Shall I? Then mine has black, black hair . . .
I mean he should have; then an air
Half sad, half noble; features thin;
A little royale on the chin;
And such a pale, high brow. And then,
He is a prince of gentlemen;—
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Sonnets and madrigals, yet fight
No worse for that—
Ninette.
I know your man.
Ninon.
And I know yours. But you'll not tell,—
Swear it!
Ninette.
I swear upon this fan,—
My Grandmother's!
Ninon.
And I, I swear
On this old turquoise reliquaire,—
My great—great Grandmother's!!—
(After a pause.)
On this old turquoise reliquaire,—
My great—great Grandmother's!!—
Ninette!
I feel so sad.
I feel so sad.
Ninette.
I too. But why?
Ninon.
Alas, I know not!
Ninette
(with a sigh).
Nor do I.
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