Part 25 (1/2)

VII.

But stand at G.o.d's high altar there, With saints around thee tall and sweet, I'll match thy pride with my despair, And drag thee down from glory's seat.

Yea, thou shalt kneel! Thy head shall bow As mine is bent in anguish now.

VIII.

What! for thy sake have I forsworn My just ambition,--all my joy, And all my hope from morn to morn, That seem'd a prize without alloy?

Have I done this? I have; and see!

I weep wild tears for thine and thee.

IX.

But I can school my soul to strength, And weep and wail as children do; Be hard as stone, yet melt at length, And curb my pride as thou can'st, too!

But I have faith, and thou hast none; And I have joy, but thine is done.

X.

No marriage-bells? No songs, you say?

No flowers to grace our bridal morn?

No wine? No kiss? No wedding-day?

I care not! Oaths are all forsworn; And, when I clasp'd thy hand so white, I meant to curse thee, girl, to-night.

XI.

And so I shall,--Oh! doubt not that.

At stroke of twelve I'll curse thee twice.

When screams the owl, when swoops the bat, When ghosts are out I'll curse thee thrice.

And thou shalt hear!--Aye, by my troth, One song will suit the souls of both.

XII.

I curse thy face; I curse thy hair; I curse thy lips that smile so well, Thy life, thy love, and my despair, My loveless couch, thy wedding-bell; My soul and thine!--Ah, see! though black, I take one half my curses back.

XIII.

For thou and I were form'd for hate, For love, for scorn; no matter what.

I am thy Fere and thou my Fate, And fire and flood shall harm us not.

Thou shalt be kill'd and hid from ken, And fiends will sing thy requiem then.

XIV.