I would be a mermaid fair; I would sing to myself the whole of the day; From under my starry sea-bud crown Low adown and around, And I should look like a fountain of gold With a shrill inner sound Over the throne In the midst of the hall; Till that great sea-snake under the sea From his coiled sleeps in the central deeps Would slowly trail himself sevenfold Round the hall where I sate, and look in at the gate With his large calm eyes for the love of me. 377 And all the mermen under the sea Die in their hearts for the love of me. But at night I would wander away, away, I would fling on each side my low-flowing locks, And lightly vault from the throne and play With the mermen in and out of the rocks; On the broad sea-wolds i' the crimson shells, From the diamond ledges that jut from the dells, All things that are forked, and horned, and soft, Would lean out from the hollow sphere of the sea, All looking down for the love of me. THE SISTERS. 39 WE THE SISTERS. were two daughters of one race: The wind is blowing in turret and tree. She died she went to burning flame: O the Earl was fair to see! I made a feast; I bade him come : Upon my lap he laid his head: O the Earl was so fair to see! I kissed his eyelids into rest : The wind is raging in turret and tree. I hated him with the hate of hell, I rose up in the silent night: I made my dagger sharp and bright. The wind is raving in turret and tree. As half-asleep his breath he drew, Three times I stabbed him through and through. I curled and combed his comely head, I wrapt his body in the sheet, And laid him at his mother's feet. O the Earl was fair to see! LOVE THAT HATH US IN THE NET. L OVE that hath us in the net, Can he pass, and we forget? Love is hurt with jar and fret. Eyes with idle tears are wet. |