Under King Constantine | Page 7

to vivify her life, Not to
imperil, and to make no claim Of her but her unfolding; to remind Her
soul of its immortal heritage, And teach her joy,--she knew but
merriment. And this, meseems, it hath done, Christ be praised. Her soul
asserts itself through her gay life, And joy pervades her,--she is radiant.
How wonderful she looked, last night, at Camelot! She moved in
glowing beauty like a star."
And with the vision of her in his heart, In all the splendour of her state
and pride, In golden-threaded samite strewn with pearls, He turned, in
the quick pacing of his walk, And faced her in her simple russet gown,
Her hair unbound, and blowing in the wind, Her cheeks as colourless as
white May flowers, Save on the one a deep and crimson stain. "My
God!" he cried, and caught her as she fell.
She told the story of her bitter wrong In poignant words of passionate
disdain. "And I have come straightway to you, Sanpeur,-- Having more
faith in your true love for me Than any woman ever had before In love
of man, or chivalry of knight,-- To tell you that I love you more than
life. Long have I loved you, well I know it now, Although I knew it not,
until this blow Stamped it in blood upon my mind and soul. I rose this
morn resolved to be more true To your high thought of womanhood,

and wife, To bear with Torm more patiently, and strive To make my
life more worthy of your love; And then,--God help me,--my resolve
was crushed By Torm's fierce hand, and love for you set free. Yea, now
my heart is sure,--beyond all doubt, Beyond all question and all fear of
men,-- That I, for ever, love you utterly. Take me, beloved, I am yours,
I want, I need, I pant, I tremble for your care. O meet me not so coldly!
I shall die If you repulse me; I have come so far And fast, without a
fear,--I loved you so,-- To seek the blessed shelter of your arms. My
brain is dizzy, and my senses fail; For God's sake tell me you are glad I
came To you--and only you--in my despair."
He took her hands, full tenderly, and said,-- His eyes alone embracing
her the while,-- "Beloved Gwendolaine, loved far above All women on
the earth, loved with a love That words would but conceal, were they
essayed, Soul of my soul, and spirit of myself, If I am cold, you know it
is in truth A cold that burns more deeply than all fire. Deep-stirred am I
that you could trust me so, And you will trust me yet, dear, when I say
You must go back to your brave lord, Sir Torm."
"Back to Sir Torm!" she said, in a half dream. "O Blessed Virgin,
Mother of the Christ! Save me and keep me from the bitter shame Of
such humiliation to my soul."
"No deed done for the right, my Gwendolaine, Can bring humiliation to
a soul. Sir Torm has loved you long and loyally--"
"He knows not how to love," she said in scorn.
"He knows his way, and in it loves you well; Your wit and beauty are
his chiefest pride; He would refuse you nothing you could ask To
gratify your pleasure and desire. He brought you from a narrow, hidden
lot, To share with you his honours at the court. You will not let all that
be wiped away By one swift deed of anger, which Sir Torm Has
bitterly repented and bewailed Full long ere this; of that you are right
sure, Because you know his loving heart's rebound."
"To live with him, Sanpeur, would now be death."

"Naught can bring death to immortality But sin,--and life with me, my
Gwendolaine, Would be the death of all we hold most high."
"Jesu have mercy! Sanpeur casts me off; He does not love me! I have
dreamed it all."
Sanpeur said almost sternly, "Gwendolaine, Unsay that; it is false! You
know full well How far I love you above thought of self; If I half loved
you, I would fold you close."
"It is unsaid, Sanpeur; but woe is me That I should fall so far from my
estate To plead in vain with any man, howe'er He love; where is my
pride, my boasted pride?"
"'Tis in my heart, if anywhere, my love."
"I can not go, Sanpeur. Torm forfeited His right to loyalty by cruelty."
"The debt of loyalty is due to self, And we must well fulfil it,
Gwendolaine, No matter how another may have failed."
A sudden horror crossed her thought,--"Sanpeur; You do not love me
less that I have come?"
"Ah! my beloved