Butwhenthearrowstrikeshim，there’sachange。
　　Hemovesbutinthetrackofhisspentpain，Whosereddropsarethelinksofaharshchain，Bindinghimtotheground，withnarrowrange。
　　AsubtleserpentthenhasLovebecome。
　　Ihadtheeagleinmybosomerst：
　　HenceforwardwiththeserpentIamcursed。
　　Icaninterpretwherethemouthisdumb。
　　Speak，andIseetheside-lieofatruth。
　　Perchancemyheartmaypardonyouthisdeed：
　　Butbenocoward：-youthatmadeLovebleed，Youmustbearallthevenomofhistooth!
　　Distractionisthepanacea，Sir!
　　IhearmyoracleofMedicinesay。
　　Doctor!thatsamespecificyesterdayItried，andtheresultwillnotdeterAsecondtrial。Isthedel’slineOfgoldenhair，orravenblack，composed？
　　Anddoesacheek，likeanysea-shellrosed，Orclearaswidowedsky，seemmostdine？
　　Nomatter，soItasteforgetfulness。
　　Andifthedelsnareme，bodyandmind，HeregratefullyIscore：-heseemedkind，Whennotasoulwouldcomfortmydistress!
　　Osweetnewworld，inwhichIrisenewmade!
　　OLady，onceIgavelove：nowItake!
　　Lady，Imustbeflattered。ShouldstthouwakeThepassionofademon，benotafraid。
　　Imustbeflattered。TheimperiousDesirespeaksout。Lady，IamcontentToplaywithyouthegameofSentiment，Andwithyouenteronpathsperilous；
　　ButifacrossyourbeautyIthrowlight，Tomakeitthreefold，itmustbeallmine。
　　Firstsecret；thenavowed。ForImustshineEned，——I，lessenedinmypropersight!
　　Bewatchfulofyourbeauty，Ladydear!
　　Howmuchhangsonthatlampyoucannottell。
　　MostearnestlyIprayyou，tenditwell：
　　Andmenshallseemeasaburningsphere；
　　Andmenshallmarkyoueyeingme，andgroanTobetheGodofsuchagrandsunflower!
　　IfeelthepromptingsofSatanicpower，Whileyoudohomageuntomealone。
　　AmIfailing？FornolongercanIcastAgloryroundaboutthisheadofgold。
　　Gloryshewears，butspringingfromthemould；
　　NotliketheconsecrationofthePast!
　　Ismysoulbeggared？SomethingmorethanearthIcryforstill：IcannotbeatpeaceInhangLoveuponamortallease。
　　Icannottakethewomanatherworth!
　　WhereistheancientwealthwherewithIclothedOurhumannakedness，andcouldendowWithspiritualsplendourawhitebrowThatelsehadgrinnedatmethefactIloathed？
　　Akissisbutakissnow!andnowaveOfagreatfloodthatwhirlsmetothesea。
　　But，asyouwill!we’llsitcontentedly，Andeatourpotofhoneyonthegrave。
　　Whatarewefirst？First，animals；andnextIntelligencesataleap；onwhomPaleliesthedistantshadowofthetomb，Andallthatdrawethonthetombfortext。
　　IntowhichstatecomesLove，thecrowningsun：
　　Beneathwhoselighttheshadowlosesform。
　　Wearethelordsoflife，andlifeiswarm。
　　Intelligenceandinstinctnowareone。
　　Butnaturesays：’MychildrenmosttheyseemWhentheyleastknowme：thereforeIdecreeThattheyshallsuffer。’SwiftdothyoungLoveflee，Andwestandwakened，sheringfromourdream。
　　ThenifwestudyNaturewearewise。
　　Thusdothefewwholebutwiththeday：
　　Thescientificanimalsarethey-
　　Lady，thisismysonnettoyoureyes。
　　Thisgoldenheadhaswitinit。IleAgain，andafarhigherlife，nearher。
　　Somewomenlikeayoungphilosopher；
　　Perchancebecauseheisdiminute。
　　Forwoman’smanlygodmustnotexceedProportionsofthenaturalnursingsize。
　　GreatpoetsandgreatsagesdrawnoprizeWithwomen：butthelittlelap-dogbreed，Whocanbehugged，oronamantel-piecePerchedupforadoration，theseobtainHerhomage。Andofthiswemenarevain？
　　Ofthis!’Tisorderedfortheworld’sincrease!
　　Smallflattery!YetshehasthatraregiftTobeauty，CommonSense。Iamapproved。
　　Itisnothalfsoniceasbeingloved，AndyetIdopreferit。What’smydrift？
　　FullfaithIhavesheholdsthatrarestgiftTobeauty，CommonSense。ToseeherlieWithherfairsageaninvertedskyBloom-covered，whiletheunderlidsuplift，Wouldalmostwreckthefaith；butwhenhermouthCanitkisssweetly？sweetly!wouldaddressTheinnermethatthirstsforhernoless，Andhassolongbeenlanguishingindrouth，IfeelthatIammatched；thatIamman!
　　Onerestlesscornerofmyheartorhead，Thatholdsadyingsomethingneverdead，Stillfrets，thoughNaturegethallshecan。
　　Itmeans，thatwomanisnot，Iopine，Hersex’santidote。WhoseekstheaspForserpent’sbites？’TwouldcalmmecouldIclaspShriekingBacchanteswiththeirsoulsofwine!
　　’InParis，attheLouvre，therehaveIseenThesumptuously-featheredangelpierceProneLucifer，descending。Lookedhefierce，Showingthefightafairone？Tooserene!
　　TheyoungPharsaliansdidnotdisarrayLesswillinglytheirlocksoffloatingsilk：
　　ThatsucklingmouthofhisuponthemilkOfheavenmightstillbefeastingthroughthefray。
　　Oh，Raphael!whenmentheFienddofight，Theyconquernotuponsucheasyterms。
　　Halfserpentinthestrugglegrowtheseworms。
　　Anddoeshegrowhalfhuman，allisright。’
　　ThistomyLadyinadistantspot，Uponthetheme：WHILEMINDISMASTERINGCLAY，GROSSCLAYINVADESIT。Ifthespyyouplay，Mywife，readthis!Strangelovetalk，isitnot？
　　Madamwouldspeakwithme。So，nowitcomes：
　　TheDelugeorelseFire!She’swell；shethanksMyhusbandship。Ourchainonsilenceclanks。
　　Timeleersbetween，abovehistwiddlingthumbs。
　　AmIquitewell？Mostexcellentinhealth!
　　Thejournals，too，Idiligentlyperuse。
　　Vesuusisexpectedtogenews：
　　Niagaraisnonoisier。BystealthOureyesdartscrutinizingsnakes。She’sgladI’mhappy，saysherqueringunder-lip。
　　’Andarenotyou？’’HowcanIbe？’’Takeship!
　　Forhappinessissomewheretobehad。’
　　’Nowhereforme!’Hervoiceisbarelyheard。
　　Iamnotmelted，andmakenopretence。
　　WithcommonplaceIfreezeher，tongueandsense。
　　NiagaraorVesuusisdeferred。
　　ItisnovulgarnatureIhavewed。
　　Secrete，sensite，shetakesawoundDeeptohersoul，asifthesensehadswooned，Andnotathoughtofvengeancehadsurved。
　　Noconfidenceshasshe：butreliefMustcometoonewhosesufferingisacute。
　　Ohaveacareofnaturesthataremute!
　　Theypunishyouinacts：theirstepsarebrief。
　　Whatisshedoing？WhatdoesshedemandFromProdenceorme？SheisnotoneLongtoendurethistorpidly，andshunThedrugsthatcrowdaboutawoman’shand。
　　AtForfeitsduringsnowweplayed，andI
　　Mustkissher。’Wellperformed!’Isaid：thenshe：
　　“Tishardlyworththemoney，youagree？’
　　Saveher？Whatfor？Toactthisweddedlie!
　　MyLadyuntoMadammakesherbow。
　　Thecharmofwomenis，thatevenwhileYou’reprobedbythemfortears，youyetmaysmile，Nay，laughoutright，asIhavedonejustnow。
　　Theinterewwasgracious：theyanointTomeasideeachotherwithfinepraise：
　　Discriminatingcomplimentstheyraise，Thathitwithwondrousaimontheweakpoint：
　　MyLady’snoseofNaturemightcomplain。
　　ItisnotfashionedaptlytoexpressHercharacteroflarge-browedsteadfastness。
　　ButMadamsays：Thereofshemaybevain!
　　Now，Madam’sfaultyfeatureisaglazedAndinaccessibleeye，thathassoftfires，Widegates，atlove-time，only。ThisadmiresMyLady。AtthetwoIstandamazed。
　　Alongthegardenterrace，underwhichApurplevalleylightedatitsedgeBysmokytorch-flameonthelongcloud-ledgeWhereunderdroppedthechariotglimmersrich，Aquietcompanywepace，andwaitThedinner-bellinprae-digestecalm。
　　SosweetupoletbankstheSouthernbalmBreathesround，wecarenotifthebellbelate：
　　ThoughhereandtheregreyseniorsquestionTimeInirritablecoughings。WithslowfootThelowrosedmoon，thefaceofMusicmute，Beginsamonghersilentbarstoclimb。
　　Asinandout，insilverydusk，wethread，IhearthelaughofMadam，anddiscernMyLady’sheelbeforemeateachturn。
　　Ourtragedy，isitaleordead？
　　GetoimaginationsomepurelightInhumanformtofit，oryoushameThedelswiththathideoushumangame：-
　　Imaginationurgingappetite!
　　Thusfallenhaveearth’sgreatestGogmagogs，Whodazzleus，whomwecannotrevere：
　　ImaginationisthecharioteerThat，indefaultofbetter，dresthehogs。
　　So，therefore，mydearLady，letmelove!
　　Mysoulisarrowytothelightinyou。
　　YouknowmethatInevercanrenewThebondthatwomanbroke：whatwouldyouhave？
　　’TisLove，orleness!notachoicebetween，Savepetrifaction!WhatdoesPityhere？
　　Shekilledathing，andnowit’sdead，’tisdear。
　　Oh，whenyoucounselme，thinkwhatyoumean!
　　Sheyields：myLadyinhernoblestmoodHasyielded：she，mygolden-crownedrose!
　　Thebrideofeverysense!moresweetthanthoseWhobreathetheoletbreathofmaidenhood。
　　Osageofstillmusicinthesky!
　　Softmoon!Ifeelthysong，myfairestfriend!
　　TrueharmonywithincanapprehendDumbharmonywithout。Andhark!’tisnigh!
　　Beliefhasstruckthenoteofsound：agleamOflingsilvershowsmewheresheshookHerlongwhitefingersdowntheshadowybrook，Thatsingshersong，halfwaking，halfindream。
　　Whattwocomeheretomarthisheavenlytune？
　　Amanisone：thewomanbearsmyname，Andhonour。Theirhandstouch!AmIstilltame？
　　God，whatadancingspectreseemsthemoon!
　　IbademyLadythinkwhatshemightmean。
　　KnowImymeaning，I？CanIloveone，Andyetbejealousofanother？NoneCommitssuchfolly。TerribleLove，Iween，Hasmight，evendead，halfsighingtoupheaveThelightlessseasofselfishnessamain：
　　Seasthatinaman’shearthavenorainTofallandstillthem。PeacecanIachieve，Byturningtothisfountain-sourceofwoe，Thiswoman，who’stoLoveasfiretowood？
　　ShebreathedtheoletbreathofmaidenhoodAgainstmykissesonce!butIsay，No!
　　Thethingismockedat!Helplesslyafloat，IknownotwhatIdo，wheretoIstre。
　　ThedreadthatmyoldlovemaybealeHasseizedmynurslingnewlovebythethroat。
　　Howmanyathingwhichwecasttotheground，Whenotherspickitupbecomesagem!