Page:The princess; a medley (IA princessmedley00tennrich).pdf/167

He shall not blind his soul with clay.'
'But I,'
Said Ida, 'so unlike, so all unlike—
Tt seems you love to cheat yourself with words:
This mother is your model. Never, Prince;
You cannot love me.'
'Nay but thee' I said
'From yearlong poring on thy pictured eyes,
Or some mysterious or magnetic touch,
Ere T loved, and loved thee seen, and saw
Thee woman thro' the crust of iron moods
That mask'd thee from men's reverence up, and forced
Sweet love on pranks of saucy boyhood: now
Giv'n back to life, to life indeed, thro' thee
Indeed I love: the new day comes, the light
Dearer for night, as dearer thou for faults
Lived over: lift thine eyes; doubt me no more;
Look up and let thy nature strike on mine
Like yonder morning on the blind half-world;
Approach and fear not; breathe upon my brows;