Page:Poems of Sentiment and Imagination.djvu/197

Rh And the bright, haughty crimson in her cheek Burnt clear and beautiful; and her rich lip Curled outward in resentment, sweet and full. And when he ceased, she stood and gazed on him In silent scorn, most deep and withering. Never a star looked on a petty flame With clearer luster than her steady eye Answered the mock disdain that quailed in his! Never a queen so wore her regal crown As she her conscious purity and pride! The tumult in his breast lay hushed and shamed Before that peerless majesty of mien— The lip that breathed of pity paled with awe Of the bright being that before him stood, So lofty in her beauty and her scorn! But still pride struggled with a sense of shame, And with a husky voice he would have spoke Still further his unmanly bitterness; But with a matchless wave of her white hand And flashing eye, she uttered, clear and quick—


 * No more! no more! the spell is broke
 * Which held me in its dizzy sway—
 * My dream of thee at last lias woke
 * To see thee in revealing day!
 * I can not mourn the spell is past
 * Which held my spirit's powers fast—
 * I can not mourn the real light—
 * I scorn thee from my waking sight—
 * Away! away


 * Obedient to that gesture of command.

From her proud, glorious presence, with no word, No sigh, and no farewell, young Clarence turned. The souls once blent in seeming perfectness Were riven apart forever—evermore! Earth—earth! thy mystery—thy agony! 17