Was sprinkled on your kirtle, and you wept. That was fawn's blood, not brother's, yet you wept. O by the bright head of my little niece, You were that Psyche, and what are you now?' 6 You are that Psyche' Cyril said again, 'The mother of the sweetest little maid, That ever crow'd for kisses.' 'Out upon it!' She answer'd, peace! and why should I not play The Spartan Mother with emotion, be The Lucius Junius Brutus of my kind? Him you call great he for the common weal, The fading politics of mortal Rome, As I might slay this child, if good need were, Slew both his sons: and I, shall I, on whom The secular emancipation turns Of half this world, be swerved from right to save A prince, a brother? a little will I yield. Best so, perchance, for us, and well for you. O hard, when love and duty clash! I fear My conscience will not count me fleckless; yetHear my conditions: promise (otherwise You perish) as you came to slip away, To-day, to-morrow, soon: it shall be said, These women were too barbarous, would not learn ; They fled, who might have shamed us: promise, all.' What could we else, we promised each; and she, Like some wild creature newly-caged, commenced A to-and-fro, so pacing till she paused By Florian; holding out her lily arms My brother! it was duty spoke, not I. My needful seeming harshness, pardon it. Our mother, is she well?' With that she kiss'd His forehead, then, a moment after, clung About him, and betwixt them blossom'd up From out a common vein of memory Sweet household talk, and phrases of the hearth, And far allusion, till the gracious dews Began to glisten and to fall and while : They stood, so rapt, we gazing, came a voice, 'I brought a message here from Lady Blanche.' Back started she, and turning round we saw The Lady Blanche's daughter where she stood, Melissa, with her hand upon the lock, A rosy blonde, and in a college gown, That clad her like an April daffodilly In crystal currents of clear morning seas. So stood that same fair creature at the door. Then Lady Psyche Ah-Melissa-you! You heard us?' and Melissa, O pardon me! I heard, I could not help it, did not wish : To give three gallant gentlemen to death.' 'I trust you' said the other for we two Were always friends, none closer, elm and vine: But yet your mother's jealous temperament Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse, or prove The Danaïd of a leaky vase, for fear This whole foundation ruin, and I lose H 6 My honour, these their lives.' Ah, fear me not' Replied Melissa 'no-I would not tell, No, not for all Aspasia's cleverness, No, not to answer, Madam, all those hard things That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.' Be it so the other that we still may lead The new light up, and culminate in peace, For Solomon may come to Sheba yet.' Said Cyril Madam, he the wisest man Of Lebanonian cedar: nor should you (Tho' madam you should answer, we would ask) Less welcome find among us, if you came Among us, debtors for our lives to you, Myself for something more.' He said not what, But Thanks,' she answer'd 'go: we have been too long Together: keep your hoods about the face; They do so that affect abstraction here. Speak little; mix not with the rest; and hold Your promise: all, I trust, may yet be well.' We turn'd to go, but Cyril took the child, |