Page:The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson, Vailima Edition, Volume 8, 1922.djvu/580

NEW POEMS And ever, vexed with heat and doubt,

Below the burthen of their shawls,

The still grey olives saw without

And glimmer of white garden walls,

Between the alternate curtain falls.

What ailed the dainty lady then,

The dainty lady, fair and sweet?

Unseen of these three silent men,

A something lay upon her feet,

Not comely for such eyes to meet.

She saw a golden salver there

And, laid upon it, on the bed,

The white teeth showing keen and bare

Between the sundered lips, a head

Sallow and horrible and dead.

She saw upon the sallow cheek

Rust-coloured blood-stains; and the eye

Her frightened glances seemed to seek

Half-lifting its blue lid on high,

Watching her, horrible and sly.

Thus spake she: "Once again that head!

"I ate too much pilau to-night,

"My mother and the eunuchs said.

"Well, I can take a hint aright—

"To-morrow's supper shall be light." 566