40
THE PRINCESS;
So stood that same fair creature at the door.
Then Lady Psyche 'Ah—Melissa—you!
You heard us?' and Melissa, 'O pardon me!
I heard, I could not help it, did not mean:
But, dearest Lady, I pray you fear me not,
Nor think I bear that heart within my breast,
To give three gallant gentlemen to death.'
'I trust you' said the other 'for we two
Were always friends, none closer, elm and vine:
But yet your mother's jealous temperament—
Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse, or prove
The Danaïd of a leaky vase, for fear
This whole foundation ruin, and I lose
My honour, these their lives.' ' Ah, fear me not'
Replied Melissa 'no—I would not tell,
No, not for all Aspasia's cleverness,
No, not to answer, Madam, all those hard things
That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.'
'Be it so' the other 'that we may live to lead
The new light up, and culminate in peace,
Then Lady Psyche 'Ah—Melissa—you!
You heard us?' and Melissa, 'O pardon me!
I heard, I could not help it, did not mean:
But, dearest Lady, I pray you fear me not,
Nor think I bear that heart within my breast,
To give three gallant gentlemen to death.'
'I trust you' said the other 'for we two
Were always friends, none closer, elm and vine:
But yet your mother's jealous temperament—
Let not your prudence, dearest, drowse, or prove
The Danaïd of a leaky vase, for fear
This whole foundation ruin, and I lose
My honour, these their lives.' ' Ah, fear me not'
Replied Melissa 'no—I would not tell,
No, not for all Aspasia's cleverness,
No, not to answer, Madam, all those hard things
That Sheba came to ask of Solomon.'
'Be it so' the other 'that we may live to lead
The new light up, and culminate in peace,
