Page:The poems of Emma Lazarus volume 1.djvu/92

And then the tenderest hands can do no more
Than close her eyes and wipe her cold, white brow,
Inurn her ashes and strew flowers above."
" This woman is a god, a hero, Death.
In this her sacrifice I see a soul
Luminous, starry : earth can spare her not :
It is not rich enough in purity
To lose this paragon. Save her, O Death !
Thou surely art more gentle than the Fates,
Yet these have spared her lord, and never meant
That she should suffer, and that this their grace,
Beautiful, royal on one side, should turn
Sudden and show a fearful, fatal face."
" Nay, have they not ? O fond and foolish man,
Naught comes unlocked for, unforeseen by them.
Doubt when they favor thee, though thou mayest laugh
When they have scourged thee with an iron scourge.
Behold, their smile is deadlier than their sting,
And every boon of theirs is double-faced.
Yea, I am gentler unto ye than these :
I slay relentless, but when have I mocked
With poisoned gifts, and generous hands that smite
Under the flowers ? for my name is Truth.
Were this fair queen more fair, more pure, more chaste,
I would not spare her for your wildest prayer