OnefairestoftheripeunweddedleftHershadowontheSage’spath；hefound，Bycommonsigns，thatshehaddoneatheft。
　　HecouldhavemadethesovereignheightsresoundWithquestionsofthewhereforeofherstate：
　　HeonfarotherbutanhourbeforeIntent。Andwasitman，orwasitmate，Thatshedisdained？orwastherehaplymore？
　　AbouthermouthaplacidhumourslippedThedimple，asyouseesmoothlakesateveSpreadmeltingringswherelateaswallowdipped。
　　Thesurfacewasattentetorecee，Thesecretunderneathenfoldedfast。
　　Shehadthestepoftheunconquered，brave，Notarrogant；andifthevessel’smastWavedliberty，nochallengediditwave。
　　Hereyeswerethesweetworlddesiredofsouls，Withsomethingofawaveringlineunspelt。
　　TheyholdthelookwhosetendernesscondolesForwhatthesisterinthelookhasdealtOffatalbeyondhealing；andhertonesAwoman’shoneyedamorousouted，Aswheninadroppedolthewood-throbmoansAmongthesobbingstrings，thatplainandchideLikeinfantsforthemselves，lessdeeptothrillThanthoserichmother-notesforthembreathedround。
　　ThosevoicesarenotmagicofthewillTostrikelove’swound，butoflove’swoundgesound，Conveyingit；theyearnings，painsanddreams。
　　Theywafttothemoisttropicsafterstorm，Whenoutofpassionspentthickincensesteams，Andjewel-beltedcloudsthewrecktransform。
　　WasneverhandonbrushorlyretopaintHergraciousmanners，wherethenuptialringOfmelodyclaspedmotioninrestraint：
　　Thereed-bladewiththebreezethereofmaysing。
　　WithsuchendowmentsarmedwassheanddeckedTomakeherspokenthoughtseclipseherkind；
　　Surpassingmanyagiantintellect，Themarvelofthatcradledinfantmind。
　　Itclenchedthetinyfist，itcurledthetoe；
　　Cherubiclaughed，enticed，dispensed，absorbed；
　　AndpromisedinfairfemininetogrowASage’smatchandmate，moreheavenlyorbed。
　　AcrosshispaththespouselessLadycastHershadow，andthemanthatthingbecame。
　　HisyouthuprisingcalledhisagethePast。
　　Thiswasthestronggreyheadoflaurelledname，AndinhisbosomaninvertedSageMistookforlightofmornthelightwhichsank。
　　ButwhowhileveinsrunbloodshallknowthepageSucceedingereweturnuponourblank？
　　ComesBeautywithhertaleofmoonandcloud，HersilveredrimsofmysterypointinginTohollowsofthehalf-veiledunavowed，Wherebeatshersecretlife，greyheadswillspinQuickastheyoung，andspellthosehieroglyphsOfphosphorescentdusk，devoutlybent；
　　TheydrinkacuptowhirlondizziercliffsFortheirshamedfall，whichasks，whywasshesent!
　　Why，andofwhom，andwhence；andtelltheytruth，Thelegendsofhermissiontobeguile？
　　HardlikenesstothetoilfulapesofyouthHeboreattimes，andtemptedtheslysmile；
　　Andnotonhersoftlipswasitdescried。
　　Shesteppedherwaybenevolentlygrave：
　　NorsignthatBeautyfedherwormofpride，Bytossingctimtothecourtierknave，Letpeep，norofthenaughtypridegavesign。
　　Rather’twashumblenessinbeingpursued，Aspilgrimtothetempleofashrine。
　　Hadhenotwitstopiercethemaskhewooed？
　　Allwisdom’sarmourythismancouldwield；
　　AndifthecynicintheSageitpleasedTraverseherwoman’scurtainandpoorshield，Fornewexampleofaworlddiseased；
　　Showinghershrineless，notatemple，bare；
　　Acurtainrippedtotattersbytheblast；
　　Yetshemostsurelytothismanstoodfair：
　　Heworshippedliketheyoungenthusiast，Namedsimpletonorpoet。DidhereadRightthrough，andwiththevoicesheheldreservedAmidhervacantruinsjointlyplead？
　　CompassionforthemanthusnoblenervedThepityforherselfshefeltinhim，Towreakadeedofsacrifice，andsave；
　　Atleast，beworthy。Thatoursoulmayswim，Wesinkourheartdownbubblingunderwave。
　　Itbubblestillitdropsamongthewrecks。
　　But，ah!confessionofawoman’sbreast：
　　Sheeminent，shehonouredofhersex!
　　Truthspeaks，andtakesthespotsoftheconfessed，Toveilthem。Noneofwomen，savetheirle，Playstraitortoanarmyinthefield。
　　Thecriesmostndicatingmostdefile。
　　HowshallacausetoNaturebeappealed，When，underpressureoftheircommonfoe，HersistersshuntheMotheranddisown，OnpainofhisintolerablecrowAbovethefiction，builtforhim，o’erthrown？
　　Irrationalheis，irrationalMusttheybe，thoughnotReason’slightshallwaneInthemwitheverNatureatclosecall，Behindthefictiontorturingtosustain；
　　Whohearherinthemilk，andsometimesmakeAtonguelessanswer，sheredonasigh：
　　Whereatmendreadtheirloftystructure’squakeOncemore，andintheirhostsfortocsinplyThecrazyroarofperil，leonineForinjuredmajesty。ThatsighofdamesIsrareandsoonsuppressed。NottheycombineToshakethestructureshelteringthem，whichtamesTheirlustierifnotwilder：fedarethey，Inelegancyscarcedenotingease；
　　Anddotheybreathe，itisnottobetrayThemartyrinthecaryatides。
　　YethereandtherealongthegracefulrowIsonewhofetchesbreathfromdeeps，whodeems，Movedbyadesperatecrang，theiroldfoeMayyieldatrustierfriendthanwomanseems，AndaidtobearthesculpturedfloralweightMasseduponheadsnotutterlyofstone：
　　Maystampendurancebyexpoundingfate。
　　Sheturnedtohim，and，Thisyouseekisgone；
　　Lookin，shesaid，aspantsthefurnace，brief，Frost-white。ShegavehishearingsighttoewThesilentchamberofabrowncurledleaf：
　　Thingthathadthrobbedereshotblacklightningthrough。
　　Nofurthersignofheartcouldhediscern：
　　Thepictureofherspeechwaswintersky；
　　Aheadlessfigurefoldingaclefturn，Wheretearsonceattheoverflowweredry。
　　I
　　Sospakesheherfirstutteranceontherack。
　　Itsoftenedtorment，inthefuneralhuesRoundwanRomanceatebb，butdroveherbackTolistentoherself，herselfaccuseHarshlyasLove’simperialcauseallowed。
　　Shemeanttogrovel，andherloverpraisedSohigho’erthecondemnatorycrowd，Thatsheperforceafellowphoenblazed。
　　Thepicturewasofhandfastjoinedtohand，Bothpushedfromangryskies，theirgraspmorepledgedUnderthethreatenedflashofabrightbrandAtarm’slengthup，forseveringactionedged。
　　Why，thenLove’sCourtofHonourcontemplate；
　　Andtwodrownedshorecasts，who，forthelifeesteemedAbovetheirlost，invokeanadvocateInPassion’spurity，therebyredeemed。
　　Redeemed，uplifted，glimmeringonathrone，Thewomanstrickenbyanarrowfalls。
　　Hisadvocateshecanbe，notherown，If，Traitresstothysex!onesistercalls。
　　Havewesuchscenesofdrapery’smournfulnessOnBeauty’srevelations，witchedweplant，Overthefairshapehumbledtoconfess，Anangel’sbuckler，withloudchoiricchant。
　　Noknightlyswordtoserve，norharpofbard，Thelady’shandinherphysician’sknew。
　　Shehadnothopedforthemasheraward，Whenzig-zagonthetongueelectricflewHerchargeofcounter-motes，noneimpure：
　　Butmutenesswhippedherskin。Shecouldhavesaid，Herfreeconfessionwastoworkhiscure，Showproofsforwhyshecouldnotloveorwed。
　　Weretheynotshown？HismutenessshookinthrallHerbodyonthevergeofthatblackpitSheerfromthetreacherousconfessional，Demandingfurther，whileperusingit。
　　Slaveistheopenmouthbeneaththeclosed。
　　Shesank；shesnatchedatcolours；theywerepeelOffruitpastsavour，inderisionrosed。
　　Forthedarkdownwardthenhersouldidreel。
　　Apressofhideousimpulseurgedtospeak：
　　Anoveldreadofmanenchainedherdumb。
　　Shefeltthesilencethicken，hearditshriek，HeardLifesubsidingontheeternalhum：
　　Welcometowomen，when，betweenman’slawsAndNature’sthirsts，they，soulfrombodytorn，Gesuckatbreasttoacelestialcause，Namedbythemouthinfernal，andforsworn。
　　Nathlessherforeheadtwitchedasadcontent，Tothinkthecuresomanifest，sofrailHercharmremaining。Wasthecurtain’srentToowide？hebutamanofthatherdmale？
　　ShesawhimasthatherdoftheforkedheadButtingthewomanharrowedonherknees，Clothedonlyinlife’slastdevouringred。
　　ConfessionatherfearfulinstantseesJudicialSilencewritethedelfactInlettersoftheskeleton：atonce，Swayedonthesupplicationofheract，Therabblereading，roaringtodenounce，Shejoins。Nolongercolouring，withskipsAttangles，picturethatforeyesintearsMightswimthesequence，sheaddressedherlipsTodothescaffold’sofficeathisears。
　　IntothebitterjudgementofthatherdOnwomen，she，deemingitpresent，fell。
　　HerfrenzyofabasementhuggedthewordTheystonewith，andsopiletheircitadelTolaunchatoutcaststhefoullenbolt。
　　Ashadheflungit，inherbreastitburned。
　　FaceandreflectitdidherhotrevoltFromhardness，tothewrithingrebelturned；
　　Becausethegoldenbucklerwaswithheld，Shetoherselfappliesthepowder-spark，Forjoyofonewilddemonbursterequelled，PerishingtoastoundthetyrantDark。
　　ShehadtheScripturalwordsoscoredonbrain，Itrangthroughairtosky，androckedaworldThatdanceddownshadesthescarletdanceprofane；
　　Mostwomen!see!bytheman’sewdustwardhurled，Impenitent，submisse，tornintwo。
　　Theysinkupontheirnature，theunnamed，Andsopsofnourishmentmaygetsomefew，Inplaceofunderstanding，scourgedandshamed。
　　BarelyhaveseasonedwomenunderstoodThegreatIrrational，whothunderspower，DresNaturetoherprimitewildwood，Andcourtsherinthecovert’sdewyhour；
　　Returningtohisfortressnighnight’send，Withexecrationofherdaughters’lures。
　　Theyhelphimtheproudfortresstodefend，Norseewhatfrontitwears，whatlifeimmures，Themurderitcommits；northatitsbaseIsshiftyasahuckster’sopeningdealForbargainundersmoothestmarketface，WhileGentlenessbidsfrigidJusticefeel，JusticeproteststhatReasonisherseat；
　　ElectConvenience，asReasonmasked，HearscalmlycrampedHumanityentreat；
　　Untilasentientworldisovertasked，AndrousesReason’sfountain-self：shecallsOnNature；Natureanswers：ShareyourguiltIncommonwhencontentioncracksthewallsOfthebighousewhichnotonmeisbuilt。
　　TheLadysaidasmuchasbreathwillbear；
　　Tohappiersistersinconceable：
　　Contemptibletoveteransofthefair，Whoshowforaconvolngpearlyshell，Atreasureoftheshore，theirwrittenbook。
　　Asmuchaswoman’sbreathwillbearandleShapedshetowordsbeneathaknottedlook，Thatheldasifforgrainthesummingsieve。
　　Herjudgenowbrightenedwithoutpause，aswakesOurhomelydaylightafterdreadofspells。
　　LipssugaredtoletloosethelittlesnakesOfslimylustresringingelfinbellsAboutastoryofthenakedflesh，Intendingbuttoputsomegarmenton，Shouldlearn，thatinthesubjecttheyenmesh，Atraitorlurksandwillbeknownanon。
　　Delusionheatingpricksthetorpiddoubt，Stationedforindexdownanancienttrack：
　　AndwareofitwashewhileshepouredoutAbrokenmoononforest-watersblack。
　　ThoughpastthestagewheremidwaymenareskilledToscantheirsenseswrigglingunderplough，Whenyettothecharmedseedofspeechdistilled，Theirheartsarefallow，he，andwitlesshow，Loathing，hadyielded，likebruisedlimbtoleech，Nothandsomely；butnowbeholdingbleedSoulofthewomaninherprostratespeech，Thevalourofthatrawnesshecouldread。
　　Thenceflashedit，asthecrimsoncurrentsranFromsensesuptothoughts，howshehadreadMaternallythewarmremaindermanBeneathhiscrust，andNature’spityshed，Insheddingdearerthanheart’sbloodtolightHissionofthepathmildWisdomwalks。
　　TherewithhecouldespyConfession’sfright；
　　Herneedofhim：theseflowersgrowonstalks；
　　Theysuckfromsoil，andhavetheirurgenciesBesideandwiththelovelyfacemidleaves。