Part 5 (2/2)

Thence are we sin, thence deliciously Persuading man refuse his highest ardour.

Too easily kindled was the ecstasy Of fleshly pa.s.sion, with a joyous flame Too readily answering the Spirit's fire!

He burns with us alone, so fragrantly His n.o.blest vigour swoons delighted. Yea, Women, I tell you, not far now is man From hating us, so pa.s.sionate the joy Of loving us, so mightily drawing down Into the service of his pleasure here All forces of his being. The pleasure soon Becomes a shame, scarce to be spoken aloud; And in best minds, either detested doting Man's joy in woman's beauty will become; Or a strict binding fire, holding him down In l.u.s.t of beauty where no beauty is.

[_The_ KING'S MESSENGER _comes in_.

_Messenger_.

To Vashti, to the Queen of the world, to her In whom the striving beauty of the world Hath made perfection, from the King I come.

And the King bids me say, Rise from thy feast; For thou must be to-night thyself a feast: The vision of thy loveliness must now Feed with astonishment my va.s.sals' hearts.

Therefore thou art to come.

_Vashti_.

And tell the King I will not come.

_Messenger_.

What was there in my words Thou dost not understand?--I say, the King Would show thy beauty to his under-kings, That with this also they may be amazed And utterly fear his fortune.

_Vashti_.

So. Go back, Tell the King I have hearkened to his message, And tell him I will not come.

_Messenger_.

What sickness shall I say has lighted on thee, So that thou canst not come?

_Vashti_.

Thou weariest me.

Say this to the King, Vashti will not come.

Are they not plain, my words? Canst thou not learn them?

_Messenger_.

Give me some softer speech. Must I not fear I shall earn whipping if I take these words?

_Vashti_.

I pray thee, go. Thou art a trouble here; Seest thou not how all these feasting women Pause, and the pleasure is distrest in them?

Thou hast thy message: say, She will not come.-- Back to the King, now!

_Messenger_.

I am whipt for this.

[_He goes_.

_Vashti_.

It seems, my sisters, we have changed our moods.

But now, my mind was heavy, you were blithe; And in a moment, you, behold, are fixt Gazing like desperate things, while I rejoice.

_1st Woman_.

Rejoice! thou dost rejoice? then madness does.

_Vashti_.

I know not that: but certainly I know A mind, that has been feeling for long time The greatness of some hovering event Poised over life, will rejoice marvellously When the event falls, suddenly seizing life: Like faintness when a thunderstorm comes down, That turns to exulting when the lightning flares, Shattering houses, making men afraid.

And this is my event: I am its choice.

Yea, not as a storm, but as an eagle now It stoops on me; and, though I am its prey, I am lifted by majestic wings, my soul Is clothed in swiftness of a mighty soaring.

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