A word, but one, one little kindly word,

Not one to spare her: out upon you, flint!
You love nor her, nor me, nor any; nay,
You shame your mother's judgement too.
You will not? well-no heart have you, or such
As fancies like the vermin in a nut

Have fretted all to dust and bitterness.'

Not one ?

So said the small king moved beyond his wont.

But Ida stood nor spoke, drain'd of her force
By many a varying influence and so long.
Down thro' her limbs a drooping languor wept :
Her head a little bent; and on her mouth

A doubtful smile dwelt like a clouded moon

In a still water: then brake out my

sire

Lifting his grim head from my wounds. O you,
Woman, whom we thought woman even now,

And were half fool'd to let you tend our son,
Because he might have wish'd it—but we see
The accomplice of your madness unforgiven,

And think that you might mix his draught with death,

When

your skies change again: the rougher hand

Is safer on to the tents: take up the Prince.'

He

:

rose, and while each ear was prick'd to attend A tempest, thro' the cloud that dimm'd her broke A genial warmth and light once more, and shone Thro' glittering drops on her sad friend.

C Come hither

O Psyche,' she cried out, ' embrace me, come,
Quick while I melt; make reconcilement sure
With one that cannot keep her mind an hour:
Come to the hollow heart they slander so!
Kiss and be friends like children being chid!

I seem no more: I want forgiveness too :

I should have had to do with none but maids,
That have no links with men. Ah false but dear,

Dear traitor too much loved, why ?-why ?-Yet see
Before these kings we embrace you yet once more

With all forgiveness, all oblivion,

And trust not love

you

less.

And now, O Sire,

Grant me your son, to nurse, to wait upon him,

Like mine own brother. For my debt to him,

This nightmare weight of gratitude, I know it;

Taunt me no more: yourself and yours shall have Free adit; we will scatter all our maids

Till happier times each to her proper hearth:

What use to keep them here now? grant my prayer.
Help, father, brother, help; speak to the king:
Thaw this male nature to some touch of that

Which kills me with myself, and drags me down
From my fixt height to mob me up with all
The soft and milky rabble of womankind,
Poor weakling ev'n as they are.'

Passionate tears

Follow'd the king replied not: Cyril said:
"Your brother, Lady,—Florian,—ask for him
Of your great head-for he is wounded too—

That

you may tend upon him with the prince.'

'Ay so,' said Ida with a bitter smile,

'Our laws are broken; let him enter too.'

Then Violet, she that sang the mournful song
And had a cousin tumbled on the plain,
Petition'd too for him. Ay so,' she said,
'I stagger in the stream: I cannot keep
My heart an eddy from the brawling hour:
We break our laws with ease, but let it be.'

'Ay so?' said Blanche: 'Amazed am I to hear

Your Highness: but your Highness breaks with ease

The law your Highness did not make: 'twas I.

I had been wedded wife, I knew mankind,

And block'd them out; but these men came to woo Your Highness-verily I think to win.'

So she, and turn'd askance a wintry eye:

But Ida with a voice, that like a bell

Toll'd by an earthquake in a trembling tower,

Rang ruin, answer'd full of grief and scorn.

'Fling our doors wide! all, all, not one, but all,

Not only he, but by my mother's soul,

Whatever man lies wounded, friend, or foe,

Shall enter, if he will. Let our girls flit,

Till the storm die! but had you stood by us,

The roar that breaks the Pharos from his base Had left us rock. She fain would sting us too, But shall not. Pass, and mingle with your likes. We brook no further insult but are gone.'

She turn'd; the very nape of her white neck Was rosed with indignation: but the Prince Her brother came; the king her father charm'd Her wounded soul with words; nor did mine own Refuse her proffer, lastly gave his hand.

Then us they lifted up, dead weights, and bare Straight to the doors: to them the doors gave way Groaning, and in the Vestal entry shriek'd

The virgin marble under iron heels: