第16章

Butwhenthearrowstrikeshim，there’sachange。

Hemovesbutinthetrackofhisspentpain，Whosereddropsarethelinksofaharshchain，Bindinghimtotheground，withnarrowrange。

AsubtleserpentthenhasLovebecome。

Ihadtheeagleinmybosomerst：

HenceforwardwiththeserpentIamcursed。

Icaninterpretwherethemouthisdumb。

Speak，andIseetheside-lieofatruth。

Perchancemyheartmaypardonyouthisdeed：

Butbenocoward：-youthatmadeLovebleed，Youmustbearallthevenomofhistooth!

Distractionisthepanacea，Sir!

IhearmyoracleofMedicinesay。

Doctor!thatsamespecificyesterdayItried，andtheresultwillnotdeterAsecondtrial。Isthedel’slineOfgoldenhair，orravenblack，composed？

Anddoesacheek，likeanysea-shellrosed，Orclearaswidowedsky，seemmostdine？

Nomatter，soItasteforgetfulness。

Andifthedelsnareme，bodyandmind，HeregratefullyIscore：-heseemedkind，Whennotasoulwouldcomfortmydistress!

Osweetnewworld，inwhichIrisenewmade!

OLady，onceIgavelove：nowItake!

Lady，Imustbeflattered。ShouldstthouwakeThepassionofademon，benotafraid。

Imustbeflattered。TheimperiousDesirespeaksout。Lady，IamcontentToplaywithyouthegameofSentiment，Andwithyouenteronpathsperilous；

ButifacrossyourbeautyIthrowlight，Tomakeitthreefold，itmustbeallmine。

Firstsecret；thenavowed。ForImustshineEned，——I，lessenedinmypropersight!

Bewatchfulofyourbeauty，Ladydear!

Howmuchhangsonthatlampyoucannottell。

MostearnestlyIprayyou，tenditwell：

Andmenshallseemeasaburningsphere；

Andmenshallmarkyoueyeingme，andgroanTobetheGodofsuchagrandsunflower!

IfeelthepromptingsofSatanicpower，Whileyoudohomageuntomealone。

AmIfailing？FornolongercanIcastAgloryroundaboutthisheadofgold。

Gloryshewears，butspringingfromthemould；

NotliketheconsecrationofthePast!

Ismysoulbeggared？SomethingmorethanearthIcryforstill：IcannotbeatpeaceInhangLoveuponamortallease。

Icannottakethewomanatherworth!

WhereistheancientwealthwherewithIclothedOurhumannakedness，andcouldendowWithspiritualsplendourawhitebrowThatelsehadgrinnedatmethefactIloathed？

Akissisbutakissnow!andnowaveOfagreatfloodthatwhirlsmetothesea。

But，asyouwill!we’llsitcontentedly，Andeatourpotofhoneyonthegrave。

Whatarewefirst？First，animals；andnextIntelligencesataleap；onwhomPaleliesthedistantshadowofthetomb，Andallthatdrawethonthetombfortext。

IntowhichstatecomesLove，thecrowningsun：

Beneathwhoselighttheshadowlosesform。

Wearethelordsoflife，andlifeiswarm。

Intelligenceandinstinctnowareone。

Butnaturesays：’MychildrenmosttheyseemWhentheyleastknowme：thereforeIdecreeThattheyshallsuffer。’SwiftdothyoungLoveflee，Andwestandwakened，sheringfromourdream。

ThenifwestudyNaturewearewise。

Thusdothefewwholebutwiththeday：

Thescientificanimalsarethey-

Lady，thisismysonnettoyoureyes。

Thisgoldenheadhaswitinit。IleAgain，andafarhigherlife，nearher。

Somewomenlikeayoungphilosopher；

Perchancebecauseheisdiminute。

Forwoman’smanlygodmustnotexceedProportionsofthenaturalnursingsize。

GreatpoetsandgreatsagesdrawnoprizeWithwomen：butthelittlelap-dogbreed，Whocanbehugged，oronamantel-piecePerchedupforadoration，theseobtainHerhomage。Andofthiswemenarevain？

Ofthis!’Tisorderedfortheworld’sincrease!

Smallflattery!YetshehasthatraregiftTobeauty，CommonSense。Iamapproved。

Itisnothalfsoniceasbeingloved，AndyetIdopreferit。What’smydrift？

FullfaithIhavesheholdsthatrarestgiftTobeauty，CommonSense。ToseeherlieWithherfairsageaninvertedskyBloom-covered，whiletheunderlidsuplift，Wouldalmostwreckthefaith；butwhenhermouth(Canitkisssweetly？sweetly!)wouldaddressTheinnermethatthirstsforhernoless，Andhassolongbeenlanguishingindrouth，IfeelthatIammatched；thatIamman!

Onerestlesscornerofmyheartorhead，Thatholdsadyingsomethingneverdead，Stillfrets，thoughNaturegethallshecan。

Itmeans，thatwomanisnot，Iopine，Hersex’santidote。WhoseekstheaspForserpent’sbites？’TwouldcalmmecouldIclaspShriekingBacchanteswiththeirsoulsofwine!

’InParis，attheLouvre，therehaveIseenThesumptuously-featheredangelpierceProneLucifer，descending。Lookedhefierce，Showingthefightafairone？Tooserene!

TheyoungPharsaliansdidnotdisarrayLesswillinglytheirlocksoffloatingsilk：

ThatsucklingmouthofhisuponthemilkOfheavenmightstillbefeastingthroughthefray。

Oh，Raphael!whenmentheFienddofight，Theyconquernotuponsucheasyterms。

Halfserpentinthestrugglegrowtheseworms。

Anddoeshegrowhalfhuman，allisright。’

ThistomyLadyinadistantspot，Uponthetheme：WHILEMINDISMASTERINGCLAY，GROSSCLAYINVADESIT。Ifthespyyouplay，Mywife，readthis!Strangelovetalk，isitnot？

Madamwouldspeakwithme。So，nowitcomes：

TheDelugeorelseFire!She’swell；shethanksMyhusbandship。Ourchainonsilenceclanks。

Timeleersbetween，abovehistwiddlingthumbs。

AmIquitewell？Mostexcellentinhealth!

Thejournals，too，Idiligentlyperuse。

Vesuusisexpectedtogenews：

Niagaraisnonoisier。BystealthOureyesdartscrutinizingsnakes。She’sgladI’mhappy，saysherqueringunder-lip。

’Andarenotyou？’’HowcanIbe？’’Takeship!

Forhappinessissomewheretobehad。’

’Nowhereforme!’Hervoiceisbarelyheard。

Iamnotmelted，andmakenopretence。

WithcommonplaceIfreezeher，tongueandsense。

NiagaraorVesuusisdeferred。

ItisnovulgarnatureIhavewed。

Secrete，sensite，shetakesawoundDeeptohersoul，asifthesensehadswooned，Andnotathoughtofvengeancehadsurved。

Noconfidenceshasshe：butreliefMustcometoonewhosesufferingisacute。

Ohaveacareofnaturesthataremute!

Theypunishyouinacts：theirstepsarebrief。

Whatisshedoing？WhatdoesshedemandFromProdenceorme？SheisnotoneLongtoendurethistorpidly，andshunThedrugsthatcrowdaboutawoman’shand。

AtForfeitsduringsnowweplayed，andI

Mustkissher。’Wellperformed!’Isaid：thenshe：

“Tishardlyworththemoney，youagree？’

Saveher？Whatfor？Toactthisweddedlie!

MyLadyuntoMadammakesherbow。

Thecharmofwomenis，thatevenwhileYou’reprobedbythemfortears，youyetmaysmile，Nay，laughoutright，asIhavedonejustnow。

Theinterewwasgracious：theyanoint(Tomeaside)eachotherwithfinepraise：

Discriminatingcomplimentstheyraise，Thathitwithwondrousaimontheweakpoint：

MyLady’snoseofNaturemightcomplain。

ItisnotfashionedaptlytoexpressHercharacteroflarge-browedsteadfastness。

ButMadamsays：Thereofshemaybevain!

Now，Madam’sfaultyfeatureisaglazedAndinaccessibleeye，thathassoftfires，Widegates，atlove-time，only。ThisadmiresMyLady。AtthetwoIstandamazed。

Alongthegardenterrace，underwhichApurplevalley(lightedatitsedgeBysmokytorch-flameonthelongcloud-ledgeWhereunderdroppedthechariot)glimmersrich，Aquietcompanywepace，andwaitThedinner-bellinprae-digestecalm。

SosweetupoletbankstheSouthernbalmBreathesround，wecarenotifthebellbelate：

ThoughhereandtheregreyseniorsquestionTimeInirritablecoughings。WithslowfootThelowrosedmoon，thefaceofMusicmute，Beginsamonghersilentbarstoclimb。

Asinandout，insilverydusk，wethread，IhearthelaughofMadam，anddiscernMyLady’sheelbeforemeateachturn。

Ourtragedy，isitaleordead？

GetoimaginationsomepurelightInhumanformtofit，oryoushameThedelswiththathideoushumangame：-

Imaginationurgingappetite!

Thusfallenhaveearth’sgreatestGogmagogs，Whodazzleus，whomwecannotrevere：

ImaginationisthecharioteerThat，indefaultofbetter，dresthehogs。

So，therefore，mydearLady，letmelove!

Mysoulisarrowytothelightinyou。

YouknowmethatInevercanrenewThebondthatwomanbroke：whatwouldyouhave？

’TisLove，orleness!notachoicebetween，Savepetrifaction!WhatdoesPityhere？

Shekilledathing，andnowit’sdead，’tisdear。

Oh，whenyoucounselme，thinkwhatyoumean!

Sheyields：myLadyinhernoblestmoodHasyielded：she，mygolden-crownedrose!

Thebrideofeverysense!moresweetthanthoseWhobreathetheoletbreathofmaidenhood。

Osageofstillmusicinthesky!

Softmoon!Ifeelthysong，myfairestfriend!

TrueharmonywithincanapprehendDumbharmonywithout。Andhark!’tisnigh!

Beliefhasstruckthenoteofsound：agleamOflingsilvershowsmewheresheshookHerlongwhitefingersdowntheshadowybrook，Thatsingshersong，halfwaking，halfindream。

Whattwocomeheretomarthisheavenlytune？

Amanisone：thewomanbearsmyname，Andhonour。Theirhandstouch!AmIstilltame？

God，whatadancingspectreseemsthemoon!

IbademyLadythinkwhatshemightmean。

KnowImymeaning，I？CanIloveone，Andyetbejealousofanother？NoneCommitssuchfolly。TerribleLove，Iween，Hasmight，evendead，halfsighingtoupheaveThelightlessseasofselfishnessamain：

Seasthatinaman’shearthavenorainTofallandstillthem。PeacecanIachieve，Byturningtothisfountain-sourceofwoe，Thiswoman，who’stoLoveasfiretowood？

ShebreathedtheoletbreathofmaidenhoodAgainstmykissesonce!butIsay，No!

Thethingismockedat!Helplesslyafloat，IknownotwhatIdo，wheretoIstre。

ThedreadthatmyoldlovemaybealeHasseizedmynurslingnewlovebythethroat。

Howmanyathingwhichwecasttotheground，Whenotherspickitupbecomesagem!