From out my store I fetched a brimming cup
Of fragrant wine, and held it to his lip,
Lifting all tenderly his hurt head up.
Lest he should know me,—let the curtain slip
Of fragrant wine, and held it to his lip,
Lifting all tenderly his hurt head up.
Lest he should know me,—let the curtain slip
Between our faces. Long he drank, and deep,
And muttered thanks to God, and stretched out wide
His great form on my bed, thus fell asleep
Safe as the child his mother guards beside.
And muttered thanks to God, and stretched out wide
His great form on my bed, thus fell asleep
Safe as the child his mother guards beside.
And there, within my walls, he lay at last,
My enemy—my arch, arch enemy!
I let my crimson passion loose, and cast
Curses for all the wrongs he 'd done to me.
My enemy—my arch, arch enemy!
I let my crimson passion loose, and cast
Curses for all the wrongs he 'd done to me.
Crouching low at the bedfoot, still, oh, still
As Fate relentless, long I watched him lie
Curtained within the shadows red, until
He seemed to lie there murdered bloodily.
As Fate relentless, long I watched him lie
Curtained within the shadows red, until
He seemed to lie there murdered bloodily.
27
