Part 17 (2/2)

LOCRINE.

Yea - I hear. I would the world beyond our sight Were dead as worlds forgotten.

ESTRILD.

Wouldst thou fright Her?

LOCRINE.

Hath all sense forsaken me? Sabrina, Thou dost not fear me?

SABRINA.

No. But when your eyes Wax red and dark, with flaughts of fire between, I fear them--or they fright me.

LOCRINE.

Wert thou wise, They would not. Never have I looked on thee So.

SABRINA.

Nay--I fear not what might fall on me.

Here laughs my father--here my mother smiles - Here smiles and laughs the water--what should I Fear?

LOCRINE.

Nought more fearful than the water's wiles - Which whoso fears not ere he fear shall die.

SABRINA.

Die? and is death no less an ill than dread?

I had liefer die than be nor quick nor dead.

I think there is no death but fear of death.

LOCRINE.

Of death or life or anything but love What knowest thou?

SABRINA.

Less than these, my mother saith - Less than the flowers that seeing all heaven above Fade and wax h.o.a.r or darken, lose their trust And leave their joy and let their glories rust And die for fear ere winter wound them: we Live no less glad of snowtime than of spring: It cannot change my father's face for me Nor turn from mine away my mother's. King They call thee: hath thy kings.h.i.+p made thee less In height of heart than we are?

LOCRINE.

No, and yes.

Here sits my heart at height of hers and thine, Laughing for love: here not the quiring birds Sing higher than sings my spirit: I am here Locrine, Whom no sound vexes here of swords or words, No cloud of thought or thunder: were my life Crowned but as lord and sire of child and wife, Throned but as prince of woodland, bank and bower, My joys were then imperial, and my state Firm as a star, that now is as a flower.

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