第44章

OnefairestoftheripeunweddedleftHershadowontheSage’spath；hefound，Bycommonsigns，thatshehaddoneatheft。

HecouldhavemadethesovereignheightsresoundWithquestionsofthewhereforeofherstate：

HeonfarotherbutanhourbeforeIntent。Andwasitman，orwasitmate，Thatshedisdained？orwastherehaplymore？

AbouthermouthaplacidhumourslippedThedimple，asyouseesmoothlakesateveSpreadmeltingringswherelateaswallowdipped。

Thesurfacewasattentetorecee，Thesecretunderneathenfoldedfast。

Shehadthestepoftheunconquered，brave，Notarrogant；andifthevessel’smastWavedliberty，nochallengediditwave。

Hereyeswerethesweetworlddesiredofsouls，Withsomethingofawaveringlineunspelt。

TheyholdthelookwhosetendernesscondolesForwhatthesisterinthelookhasdealtOffatalbeyondhealing；andhertonesAwoman’shoneyedamorousouted，Aswheninadroppedolthewood-throbmoansAmongthesobbingstrings，thatplainandchideLikeinfantsforthemselves，lessdeeptothrillThanthoserichmother-notesforthembreathedround。

ThosevoicesarenotmagicofthewillTostrikelove’swound，butoflove’swoundgesound，Conveyingit；theyearnings，painsanddreams。

Theywafttothemoisttropicsafterstorm，Whenoutofpassionspentthickincensesteams，Andjewel-beltedcloudsthewrecktransform。

WasneverhandonbrushorlyretopaintHergraciousmanners，wherethenuptialringOfmelodyclaspedmotioninrestraint：

Thereed-bladewiththebreezethereofmaysing。

WithsuchendowmentsarmedwassheanddeckedTomakeherspokenthoughtseclipseherkind；

Surpassingmanyagiantintellect，Themarvelofthatcradledinfantmind。

Itclenchedthetinyfist，itcurledthetoe；

Cherubiclaughed，enticed，dispensed，absorbed；

AndpromisedinfairfemininetogrowASage’smatchandmate，moreheavenlyorbed。

AcrosshispaththespouselessLadycastHershadow，andthemanthatthingbecame。

HisyouthuprisingcalledhisagethePast。

Thiswasthestronggreyheadoflaurelledname，AndinhisbosomaninvertedSageMistookforlightofmornthelightwhichsank。

ButwhowhileveinsrunbloodshallknowthepageSucceedingereweturnuponourblank？

ComesBeautywithhertaleofmoonandcloud，HersilveredrimsofmysterypointinginTohollowsofthehalf-veiledunavowed，Wherebeatshersecretlife，greyheadswillspinQuickastheyoung，andspellthosehieroglyphsOfphosphorescentdusk，devoutlybent；

TheydrinkacuptowhirlondizziercliffsFortheirshamedfall，whichasks，whywasshesent!

Why，andofwhom，andwhence；andtelltheytruth，Thelegendsofhermissiontobeguile？

HardlikenesstothetoilfulapesofyouthHeboreattimes，andtemptedtheslysmile；

Andnotonhersoftlipswasitdescried。

Shesteppedherwaybenevolentlygrave：

NorsignthatBeautyfedherwormofpride，Bytossingctimtothecourtierknave，Letpeep，norofthenaughtypridegavesign。

Rather’twashumblenessinbeingpursued，Aspilgrimtothetempleofashrine。

Hadhenotwitstopiercethemaskhewooed？

Allwisdom’sarmourythismancouldwield；

AndifthecynicintheSageitpleasedTraverseherwoman’scurtainandpoorshield，Fornewexampleofaworlddiseased；

Showinghershrineless，notatemple，bare；

Acurtainrippedtotattersbytheblast；

Yetshemostsurelytothismanstoodfair：

Heworshippedliketheyoungenthusiast，Namedsimpletonorpoet。DidhereadRightthrough，andwiththevoicesheheldreservedAmidhervacantruinsjointlyplead？

CompassionforthemanthusnoblenervedThepityforherselfshefeltinhim，Towreakadeedofsacrifice，andsave；

Atleast，beworthy。Thatoursoulmayswim，Wesinkourheartdownbubblingunderwave。

Itbubblestillitdropsamongthewrecks。

But，ah!confessionofawoman’sbreast：

Sheeminent，shehonouredofhe