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

"Thus I will hold you! And in death or pain,
Victor or vanquished, till your bosom's snow
Melt in my heart, I will not let you go:
I will not live away from you again;
I am more strong than you with all your might,
And all your beauty is my proper right!"

Still there she stood, clasped closely, dreamingly,
With moonlit eyes and dewy marble cheek,
Lips moving not to kiss me or to speak;
Still there she stood, clasped closely, dreamingly.
Her eyes shone in the darkness, as the light
That leads forth wanderers, far, far into the night.

Rested her white hand on my hungry arm:
"And I have been alone; alone," she said;
"I thought to go alone among the dead,
And lonely guide them with an awful charm.
I thought alone to turn the weak world's length;
I knew not that a man had such a strength.

14

"Fold round your arms more closely. How your lip
Is cold, and night-dews from your eyelids drip!
Fold closely. Now I know that life can give
Something more sweet than power, yet more sweet
Than cruelty. Do our hearts together beat?
To be in lonely strength is not to live.

"Kiss not so close, for I would speak awhile:
Know, love, that I must wander many a mile
'Twixt now and day. Know, I can never wed,
Save with death to my lover, but a man
Who knows my every spell to bless or ban;
Unless I lay all down beside my marriage bed.

"Which will you: wed me as a powerless maid,
Of night, and wolves, and warlock word afraid;
Or wait till my high art yourself have learned?"
I cried -- "I wed no weakling for my bride!
Ride we this rotten world, whate'er betide:
I kiss you on it." -- And her lips like fire burned.

SECOND PART

15

So three long years I toiled by night and day