Page:Poems - volume 1 - EBBrowning (1844).pdf/243

 "Ne'ertheless, you see, I seek it—not because I am a woman,"— (Here her smile sprang like a fountain, and, so, overflowed her mouth) "But because my woods in Sussex have some purple shades at gloaming, Which are worthy of a king in state, or poet in his youth.

"I invite you, Mr. Bertram, to no hive for worldly speeches— Sir, I scarce should dare—but only where God asked the thrushes first— And if you will sing beside them, in the covert of my beeches, I will thank you for the woodlands, for the human world at worst."

Then, she smiled around right childly, then, she gazed around right queenly; And I bowed—I could not answer! Alternated light and gloom—