Page:One of Cleopatra's nights by F.S. Faust.djvu/13

 And the queen stood and felt a wind Out of the east catch strong about her throat, And she said: "I also have known such dreams— Would give some moments from the treasure-hoard Of life to consecrate blind fancy. Here Am I; and there, a palace; all is thine Through this short night; but never shalt thou see The dawn." And Greon said: "If morning follow On such a night, shall I give heed? One moment May hold the purpose of a life. A night? Nay, an eternity! What dull-eyed dawn Could follow?"

Down from the barge they passed and up The great soft carpet that the slaves unrolled Before their feet, between the sphinxes towards The palace hall. An empire had been sacked To furnish it. And golden lamps that hung From golden chains made a warm light through all That room, and purple and blue and glorious brown Lay soft beneath the light. Some words the queen Spoke there, and a young slave led Creon forth To a great bath of the carved basalt stone Wherein the stirring water flashed again, And gave a gentle perfume through the air. Thereafter brought him robes of costly silk Bordered with priceless purples out of Tyre; But Creon chose a tunie of pure linen, Unsown with gems, that left one shoulder bare, And bare one arm large-muscled. Thence they led