III. I made a feast; I bade him come: I won his love, I brought him home. The wind is roaring in turret and tree. And after supper, on a bed, Upon my lap he laid his head: O the Earl was fair to see! IV. I kissed his eyelids into rest: His ruddy cheek upon my breast. The wind is raging in turret and tree. I hated him with the hate of hell, But I loved his beauty passing well. O the Earl was fair to see! V. 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. O the Earl was fair to see! VI. I curled and combed his comely head, He looked so grand when he was dead. And laid him at his mother's feet. VOL. I. O the Earl was fair to see! TO WITH THE FOLLOWING POEM. I SEND you here a sort of allegory, And Knowledge for its beauty; or if Good, That Beauty, Good, and Knowledge, are three sisters Living together under the same roof, And never can be sundered without tears. And he that shuts Love out, in turn shall be THE PALACE OF ART. I BUILT my soul a lordly pleasure-house, I said, "O Soul, make merry and carouse, A huge crag-platform, smooth as burnished brass. Suddenly scaled the light. Thereon I built it firm. Of ledge or shelf The rock rose clear, or winding stair. My soul would live alone unto herself In her high palace there. And "while the world runs round and round," I said. Still as, while Saturn whirls, his steadfast shade To which my soul made answer readily: "Trust me, in bliss I shall abide In this great mansion, that is built for me, So royal-rich and wide." Four courts I made, East and West, South and North, In each a squared lawn, wherefrom The golden gorge of dragons spouted forth A flood of fountain-foam. And round the cool green courts there ran a row Echoing all night to that sonorous flow Of spouted fountain-floods. |