Lady Geraldine's Courtship

VII.

Said he--"Wake me by no gesture,--sound of breath, or stir of vesture! Let the blessed apparition melt not yet to its divine! No approaching--hush, no breathing! or my heart must swoon to death in The too utter life thou bringest, O thou dream of Geraldine!"

VIII.

Ever, evermore the while in a slow silence she kept smiling, But the tears ran over lightly from her eyes and tenderly:-- "Dost thou, Bertram, truly love me? Is no woman far above me Found more worthy of thy poet-heart than such a one as I?"

LXVII.

There, I maddened! her words stung me. Life swept through me into fever, And my soul sprang up astonished, sprang full-statured in an hour. Know you what it is when anguish, with apocalyptic NEVER, To a Pythian height dilates you, and despair sublimes to power?

LXVIII.

From my brain the soul-wings budded, waved a flame about my body, Whence conventions coiled to ashes. I felt self-drawn out, as man, From amalgamate false natures, and I saw the skies grow ruddy With the deepening feet of angels, and I knew what spirits can.

LXIX.

I was mad, inspired--say either! (anguish worketh inspiration) Was a man or beast--perhaps so, for the tiger roars when speared; And I walked on, step by step along the level of my passion-- Oh my soul! and passed the doorway to her face, and never feared.