Quick-is it finished? VII. The colour's too grim! Why not soft like the phial's, enticing and dim? VIII. What a drop! She's not little, no minion like me— IX. For only last night, as they whispered, I brought Could I keep them one half minute fixed, she would fall, X. Not that I bid you spare her the pain! XI. Is it done? Take my mask off! Nay, be not morose, XII. Now, take all my jewels, gorge gold to your fill, THE CONFESSIONAL. [SPAIN.] I. It is a lie their Priests, their Pope, ... Their Saints, their . . . all they fear or hope 11. You think Priests just and holy men! I was a human creature too, With flesh and blood like one of you, III. I had a lover-shame avaunt! This poor wrenched body, grim and gaunt, Was kissed all over till it burned, By lips the truest, love e'er turned His heart's own tint: one night they kissed My soul out in a burning mist. IV. So, next day when the accustomed train V. But when I falter Beltran's name, "Ha?" quoth the father; "much I blame "The sin; yet wherefore idly grieve? 66 Despair not, strenuously retrieve ! "Nay, I will turn this love of thine "To lawful love, almost divine. VI. "For he is young, and led astray, "This Beltran, and he schemes, men say, "To change the laws of church and state; "So, thine shall be an angel's fate, "Who, ere the thunder breaks, should roll "Its cloud away and save his soul. VII. "For, when he lies upon thy breast, "Of all his plans, and next day steal VIII. That father's beard was long and white, And, that same evening, bade the boy, IX. He told me what he would not tell X. I told the father all his schemes, Who were his comrades, what their dreams; 66 To-night he comes, but not the same XI. Nor next night on the after-morn, The church was empty; something drew It led me to the market-place- XII. That horrible black scaffold drest The stapled block . . God sink the rest! XIII. No part in aught they hope or fear! No Heaven with them, no Hell, and here, But shall bear God and Man my cry- THE FLIGHT OF THE DUCHESS. YOU'RE my friend : I. I was the man the Duke spoke to; I helped the Duchess to cast off his yoke, too; So, here's the tale from beginning to end, My friend! |