"George Bidder - Merlin's Youth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bidder George)

And I will make you follow my behest,
Natheless for all the spells that e'er were wrought!"

11

Her white hands touched my face. "Poor, gentle boy,
And have you not enough of Yberha's grace?
Were you not sated with the wolf's embrace,
That you would know my lips as little coy?
Would you court a bride who can cast a shade on the sun,
And will watch the soul in its flight when the rushlight yonder is done?

"I love not ever my father; who reads strange scrolls
Of how the world shall be happy, and men be kind,
And great ones from their slaves their chains unbind,
And lowly men be great. I take his rolls
And read on the other side, of power and pride;
Who weds must win them for me, whatsoe'er betide.

"Swim home and dream in peace. Not yours to turn
The forces of the stars out from the sky,
And wield them; while the men fall down and die
Where'er your finger points, and the worlds burn,
And horror fills your soul with horror's depth and height,
And round about you press the forces of the night.

12

"Boy, dare you hold unceasing, endless pain
Thralled in your hand? when a shiver or a stain
Of fear across your mind would loose it there,
And in one flood would roll over your brain
One blank of that unceasing endless pain,
And agony relentless, and unperishing despair.

"Dare you walk forth on lone eternal hills,
And know beside you lone eternal wills,
Bend them, unwilling, to tear up the earth,
To whirl the heavens backward, heap the sea,
Cast night on noonday, set the Zodiac free.
And curse a newborn life before its birth?

"Swim home and dream in peace: and woo some girl
Whose charms are blush of cheek, and waft of curl;
And give her then this kiss." I clasped her form,
White-robed and slim: "I woo no other maid;
I fear not death or pain, nor the cold shade
Of loneliness. Rage all your fiery storm.

13