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Pales in the fire of your warm human love,
And did I live,but it is best to die
Since Life has grown too fair, the God too far.
Flavian.(Kneels on one knee beside her):
Halcyon fleeing from the imminent storm
Linger a little to conjure the sea,
And either bless me with thy love, and live,
Or, if thou must die, rather hating me
Than loving, leave me, else thou dost bequeathe
Undying, soul-dissolving vain regret.
Since still there lies less poignant break-of-heart,
In 'never could be' than in 'might have been'!
Theonöe:
I laid aside my lamp to seek a star
That burns estrangéd, out of my poor reach,
And now, too late, I would my lamp relume
The lamp I scorn'd of happy human love,
Which best can light our darkness.
