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
[ 10 ]
