" And Katie said him "Nay,"
In all the maiden, speechless, gentle ways
A woman has. But Alfred only laugh'd
To his own soul, and said in his wall'd mind:
"O, Kate, were I a lover, I might feel
"Despair flap o'er my hopes with raven wings;
"Because thy love is giv'n to other love.
"And did I love--unless I gain'd thy love,
"I would disdain the golden hair, sweet lips,
"Air-blown form and true violet eyes;
"Nor crave the beauteous lamp without the flame;
"Which in itself would light a charnel house.
"Unlov'd and loving, I would find the cure
"Of Love's despair in nursing Love's disdain--
"Disdain of lesser treasure than the whole.
"One cares not much to place against the wheel
"A diamond lacking flame--nor loves to pluck
"A rose with all its perfume cast abroad
"To the bosom of the gale. Not I, in truth!
"If all man's days are three score years and ten,
"He needs must waste them not, but nimbly seize
"The bright consummate blossom that his will
"Calls for most loudly. Gone, long gone the days
"When Love within my soul for ever stretch'd
"Fierce hands of flame, and here and there I found
"A blossom fitted for him--all up-fill'd
"With love as with clear dew--they had their hour
"And burn'd to ashes with him, as he droop'd
"In his own ruby fires. No Phoenix he,
"To rise again because of Katie's eyes,
"On dewy wings, from ashes such as his!
"But now, another Passion bids me forth.
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