And might my father do but as he list, And make this day what other days have been, I should not shut tonight mine eyes unkissed.
ESTRILD.
I wis thou wouldst not.
SABRINA.
Then I would he were No king at all, and save his golden hair Wore on his gracious head no golden crown.
Must he be king for ever?
ESTRILD.
Not if prayer Could lift from off his heart that crown of care And draw him toward us as with music down.
SABRINA.
Not so, but upward to us.He would but frown To hear thee talk as though the woodlands there Were built no lordlier than the wide-walled town.
Thou knowest, when I desire of him to see What manner of crown that wreath of towers may be That makes its proud head shine like older Troy's, His brows are bent even while he laughs on me And bids me think no more thereon than he, For flowers are serious things, but towers are toys.
ESTRILD.
Ay, child; his heart was less care's throne than joy's, Power's less than love's friend ever: and with thee His mood that plays is blither than a boy's.
SABRINA.
I would the boy would give the maid her will.
ESTRILD.
Has not thine heart as mine has here its fill?
SABRINA.
So have our hearts while sleeping--till they wake.
ESTRILD.
Too soon is this for waking: sleep thou still.
SABRINA.
Bid then the dawn sleep, and the world lie chill.
ESTRILD.
This nest is warm for one small wood-dove's sake.
SABRINA.
And warm the world that feels the sundawn break.
ESTRILD.
But hath my fledgeling cushat here slept ill?
SABRINA.
No plaint is this, but pleading, that I make.
ESTRILD.
Plead not against thine own glad life: the plea Were like a wrangling babe's that fain would be Free from the help its hardy heart contemns, Free from the hand that guides and guards it, free To take its way and sprawl and stumble.See!
Have we not here enough of diadems Hung high round portals pillared smooth with stems More fair than marble?
SABRINA.
This is but the Ley:
I fain would look upon the lordlier Thames.
ESTRILD.
A very water-bird thou art: the river So draws thee to it that, seeing, my heart-strings quiver And yearn with fear lest peril teach thee fear Too late for help or daring to deliver.
SABRINA.
Nay, let the wind make willows weep and shiver:
Me shall nor wind nor water, while I hear What goodly words saith each in other's ear.
And which is given the gift, and which the giver, I know not, but they take and give good cheer.
ESTRILD.
Howe'er this be, thou hast no heed of mine, To take so little of this life of thine I gave and would not see thee cast away For childishness in childhood, though it shine For me sole comfort, for my lord Locrine Chief comfort in the world.
SABRINA.
Nay, mother, nay, Make me not weep with chiding: wilt thou say I love thee not? Hark! see, my sire for sign!
I hear his horse.
ESTRILD.
He comes!
SABRINA.
He comes today!
[ExeuntSCENE II.--Troynovant.A Room in the Palace.
Enter GUENDOLEN and CAMBER.
GUENDOLEN.
I know not, sir, what ails you to desire Such audience of me as I give.
CAMBER.
What ails Me, sister? Were the heart in me no higher Than his who heeds no more than harpers' tales Such griefs as set a sister's heart on fire -GUENDOLEN.
Then were my brother now at rest in Wales, And royal.
CAMBER.
Am I less than royal here?
GUENDOLEN.
Even here as there alike, sir.
CAMBER.
Dost thou fear Nothing?
GUENDOLEN.
My princely cousin, not indeed Much that might hap at word or will of thine.
CAMBER.
Ay--meanest am I of my father's seed, If men misjudge not, cousin; and Locrine Noblest.
GUENDOLEN.
Should I gainsay their general rede, My heart would mock me.
CAMBER.
Such a spirit as mine Being spiritless--my words heartless--mine acts Faint shadows of Locrine's or Albanact's?
GUENDOLEN.
Nay--not so much--I said not so.Say thou What thou wouldst have--if aught thou wouldst--with me.
CAMBER.
No man might see thine eyes and lips and brow Who would not--what he durst not crave of thee.
GUENDOLEN.
Ay, verily? And thy spirit exalts thee now So high that these thy words fly forth so free, And fain thine act would follow--flying above Shame's reach and fear's? What gift may this be? Love?
Or liking? or compassion?
CAMBER.
Take not thus Mine innocent words amiss, nor wrest awry Their piteous purpose toward thee.
GUENDOLEN.
Piteous!
Who lives so low and looks upon the sky As would desire--who shares the sun with us That might deserve thy pity?
CAMBER.
Thou.
GUENDOLEN.
Not I, Though I were cast out hence, cast off, discrowned, Abject, ungirt of all that guards me round, Naked.What villainous madness, knave and king, Is this that puts upon thy babbling tongue Poison?
CAMBER.
The truth is as a snake to sting That breathes ill news: but where its fang hath stung The very pang bids health and healing spring.
God knows the grief wherewith my spirit is wrung -The spirit of thee so scorned, so misesteemed, So mocked with strange misprision and misdeemed Merciless, false, unbrotherly--to take Such task upon it as may burn thine heart With bitterer hatred of me that I spake What, had I held my peace and crept apart And tamed my soul to silence for thy sake And mercy toward the royal thing thou art, Chance haply might have made a fiery sword To slay thee with--slay thee, and spare thy lord.
GUENDOLEN.
Worse had it done to slay my lord, and spare Me.Wilt thou now show mercy toward me? Then Strike with that sword mine heart through--if thou dare.
All know thy tongue's edge deadly.
CAMBER.
Guendolen, Thou seest me like a vassal bound to bear All bitter words that bite the hearts of men From thee, so be it this please thy wrath.I stand Slave of thy tongue and subject of thine hand, And pity thee.Take, if thou wilt, my head;Give it my brother.Thou shalt hear me speak First, though the soothfast word that hangs unsaid As yet, being spoken,--albeit this hand be weak And faint this heart, thou sayest--should strike thee dead Even with that rose of wrath on brow and cheek.
GUENDOLEN.
I hold not thee too faint of heart to slay Women.Say forth whate'er thou hast heart to say.
CAMBER.
