Page:Atalanta in Calydon - a tragedy (IA atalantaincalydo00swinrich).pdf/135

 Where no flesh is nor beauty nor swift eyes Nor sound of mouth nor might of hands and feet. But thou, dear, hide my body with thy veil, And with thy raiment cover foot and head, And stretch thyself upon me and touch hands With hands and lips with lips: be pitiful As thou art maiden perfect; let no man Defile me to despise me, saying, This man Died woman-wise, a woman’s offering, slain Through female fingers in his woof of life, Dishonourable; for thou hast honoured me. And now for God’s sake kiss me once and twice And let me go; for the night gathers me, And in the night shall no man gather fruit.

Hail thou: but I with heavy face and feet Turn homeward and am gone out of thine eyes.

Who shall contend with his lords Or cross them or do them wrong? Who shall bind them as with cords? Who shall tame them as with song? Who shall smite them as with swords? For the hands of their kingdom are strong.