THE STATUE AND THE BUST.
159
The Duke (with the statue's face in the square)
Turned in the midst of his multitude
At the bright approach of the bridal pair.
Turned in the midst of his multitude
At the bright approach of the bridal pair.
Face to face the lovers stood
A single minute and no more,
While the bridegroom bent as a man subdued—
A single minute and no more,
While the bridegroom bent as a man subdued—
Bowed till his bonnet brushed the floor—
For the Duke on the lady a kiss conferred,
As the courtly custom was of yore,
For the Duke on the lady a kiss conferred,
As the courtly custom was of yore,
In a minute can lovers exchange a word?
If a word did pass, which I do not think,
Only one out of the thousand heard.
If a word did pass, which I do not think,
Only one out of the thousand heard.
That was the bridegroom. At day's brink
He and his bride were alone at last
In a bed-chamber by a taper's blink.
He and his bride were alone at last
In a bed-chamber by a taper's blink.
