LOCRINE.

Thy fear is darker, child, than her desire.

ESTRILD.

I fear not her at all: I would not fear The one thing fearful to me yet, who here Sit walled around with waters and with woods From all things fearful but the fear of change.

LOCRINE.

Fear thou not that: for nothing born eludes Time; and the joy were sorrowful and strange That should endure for ever. Yea, I think Such joy would pray for sorrow's cup to drink, Such constancy desire an end, for mere Long weariness of watching. Thou and I Have all our will of life and loving here, - A heavenlier heaven on earth: but we shall die, And if we died not, love we might outlive As now shall love outlive us.

ESTRILD.

We?

LOCRINE.

Forgive!

ESTRILD.

King! and I held thee more than man!

LOCRINE.

G.o.d wot, Thou art more than I--more strong and wise; I know Thou couldst not live one hour if love were not.

ESTRILD

And thou? -

LOCRINE.

I would not. All the world were woe, And all the day night, if the love I bear thee Were plucked out of the life wherein I wear thee As crown and comfort of its nights and days.

ESTRILD.

Thou liest--for love's sake and for mine--and I Lie not, who swear by thee whereon I gaze I hold no truth so hallowed as the lie Wherewith my love redeems me from the snare Dark doubt had set to take me.

LOCRINE.

Wilt thou swear - By what thou wilt soever--by the sun That sees us--by the light of all these flowers - By this full stream whose waves we hear not run - By all that is nor mine nor thine, but ours - That thou didst ever doubt indeed? or dream That doubt, whose breath bids love of love misdeem, Were other than the child of hate and h.e.l.l, The liar first-born of falsehood?

ESTRILD.

Nay--I think - G.o.d help me!--hardly. Never? can I tell?

When half our soul and all our senses sink From dream to dream down deathward, slain with sleep, How may faith hold a.s.surance fast, or keep Her power to cast out fear for love's sake?

LOCRINE.

Could doubt not thee, waking or sleeping.

ESTRILD.

No - Thou art not mad. How should the sunlit sky Betray the sun? cast out the sunshine? So Art thou to me as light to heaven: should light Die, were not heaven as h.e.l.l and noon as night?

And wherefore should I hold more dear than life Death? Could I live, and lack thee? Thou, O king, Hast lands and lordships--and a royal wife - And rule of seas that tire the seamew's wing - And fame as far as fame can travel; I, What have I save this home wherein to die, Except thou love me? Nay, nor home were this, No place to die or live in, were I sure Thou didst not love me. Swear not by this kiss That love lives longer--faith may more endure - Than one poor kiss that pa.s.ses with the breath Of lips that gave it life at once and death.

Why shouldst thou swear, and wherefore should I trust?

When day shall drive not night from heaven, and night Shall chase not day to deathward, then shall dust Be constant--and the stars endure the sight Of dawn that shall not slay them.

LOCRINE.

By thine eyes - Turned stormier now than stars in bare-blown skies Wherethrough the wind rings menace,--I will swear Nought: so shall fear, mistrust, and jealous hate Lie foodless, if not fangless. Thou, so fair That heaven might change for thee the seal of fate, How darest thou doubt thy power on souls of men?

ESTRILD.

What vows were those that won thee Guendolen?

LOCRINE.

I sware not so to her. Thou knowest -

ESTRILD.

Not I.

Thou knowest that I know nothing.

LOCRINE.

Nay, I know That nothing lives under the sweet blue sky Worth thy sweet heeding, wouldst thou think but so, Save love--wherewith thou seest thy world fulfilled.

ESTRILD.

Ay,--would I see but with thine eyes.

LOCRINE.

Estrild, Estrild!

ESTRILD.

No soft reiterance of my name Can sing my sorrow down that comes and goes And colours hope with fear and love with shame.

Rose hast thou called me: were I like the rose, Happier were I than woman: she survives Not by one hour, like us of longer lives, The sun she lives in and the love he gives And takes away: but we, when love grows sere, Live yet, while trust in love no longer lives, Nor drink for comfort with the dying year Death.

LOCRINE.

Wouldst thou drink forgetfulness for wine To heal thine heart of love toward me?

ESTRILD.