Alice: An Adultery

THE TWENTY-NINTH DAY “ Persevere in that clear way thou goest, And the gods strengthen thee.” Pericles. Linked in the tiny shelf upon the ship, My blind eyes burned into her mild ones : limbs Twined to each other while fine dew bedims Their quivering skins : lip fastened unto lip : Whole soul and body frenzied meet and clip ; And the breath staggers, and the life-blood swims ! Terrible gods chant black demoniac hymns As the frail cords of honour strain and slip. For in the midst of that tremendous tide The mighty vigour of a god was mine ! Drunk with desire, her lamentations died. The dove gave place a moment to the swine ! Rapturous draughts of madness ! Out she sighed Uttermost life’s love, and became a bride. Beneath the sonnet, in pencil, and feebler hand, are scrawled faintly the words : Alice ! Alice ! 68