| Filthy harlots — the Lord’s grape!
|
| With lore ornamentéd entreating;
|
| Hollow heartéd, heart-departéd —
|
| Yet thou reapest the blooming rose —
|
| When 'tis the weed which is to be swath’d
|
| -- I do in the blooming flower pleasure find!
|
| And me in the yesterday’s blind?!
|
| -- Innocence is reserved for the meek:
|
| -- Of naught is my grasp ne’er to be!
|
| Hah! |
| — for thee even a hound holdeth the throne
|
| Unwantéd child of mother! |
| — Plague of plagues!
|
| Father of leprous children
|
| I wield ye to stint this brawl!
|
| Nigh is the ford — yet harken! |
| — do not thwart!
|
| Desirest thou to do it withal
|
| I shall cause thy body by one head too short!
|
| Sayest ye nay to my boon;
|
| Then wilt thou from bloodshed swoon!
|
| -- Err me not! |
| — Must ye bethink my foolhardiness!
|
| -- Be vanishéd! |
| — Be banishéd! |
| -
|
| -- If ye deemest me not wroth
|
| -- My hand hieth to unsheathe the sword
|
| -- Lest thou tost totter —
|
| -- Whid along! |
| — Wherefore irk my haughtiness?
|
| No man… No man at all!, -- Wherefore bereave
|
| Be it lord or beggar -- The kine of the sward?
|
| Bereaveth my dignity! |
| -- Wherefore holdest thou for
|
| -- Me such quailing scowl?
|
| Loom my darling sun —
|
| Bear the scarlet colour! |