Whatever man lies wounded, friend, or foe, Shall enter, if he will. Let our girls flit, 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: And on they moved and gain'd the hall, and there Rested but great the crush was, and each base, To left and right, of those tall columns drown'd Of female whisperers: at the further end The common men with rolling eyes; amazed The women stared at these, all silent, save That o'er the statues leapt from head to head, Now set a wrathful Dian's moon on flame, And now and then an echo started up, And shuddering fled from room to room, and died Of fright in far apartments. Then the voice Of Ida sounded, issuing ordinance : And me they bore up the broad stairs and thro' To one deep chamber shut from sound, and due That afternoon a sound arose of hoof And chariot, many a maiden passing home Ask me no more: the moon may draw the sea; The cloud may stoop from heaven and take the shape, With fold to fold, of mountain or of cape; But O too fond, when have I answer'd thee? Ask me no more: what answer should I give? Ask me no more, lest I should bid thee live; Ask me no more. Ask me no more: thy fate and mine are seal'd : No more, dear love, for at a touch I yield; VII. So was their sanctuary violated, At first with all confusion: by and bye Sweet order lived again with other laws : A kindlier influence reign'd; and everywhere Low voices with the ministering hand Hung round the sick the maidens came, they talk'd, They sang, they read: till she not fair, began To gather light, and she that was, became Her former beauty treble; and to and fro Like creatures native unto gracious act, And in their own clear element, they moved. But sadness on the soul of Ida fell, |