White Stains

28 AD LYDIAM, UT SECUM A MARITO FUGERET AD LYDIAM, UT SECUM A MARITO FUGERET I The bird has chosen, and the world of spring Under Love’s banner is enrolled, but thou, Chained to the iron couch of wedlock fast, Art mourning while all nature else doth sing The deep delights of Love. Still on thy brow Lurks the dark shade, thy smile is overcast With fear of the world’s thought, and lips of love Pale at that spectre, imminent, immense, Cold Chastity, the child of Impotence, And eyes grow dim with grey distrust thereof. Forget, dear heart, forget ; life’s glow is sweet : Come to a lover’s arms that grow divine At the first eloquent embrace of thine, While pulses in wild unison warmly beat. 2 I know a valley walled with glistening steep Of fire-hewn rock, and stately cliff of ice,