The Emperor"s chamberlains, behold Their silver shoes and staves of gold.
Look, look! how like some heaven come down The maidens go with girded gown!
JOAN
Yea, yea, and this last row of them Draw up their kirtles by the hem, And scatter roses e"en like those About my father"s garden-close.
GILES
Ah! have I hurt you? See the girls Whose slim hands scatter very pearls.
JOAN
Hold me fast, Giles! here comes one Whose raiment flashes down the sun.
GILES
O sweet mouth! O fair lids cast down!
O white brow! O the crown, the crown!
JOAN
How near! if nigher I might stand By one ell, I could touch his hand.
GILES
Look, Joan! if on this side she were Almost my hand might touch her hair.
JOAN
Ah me! what is she thinking on?
GILES
Is he content now all is won?
JOAN
And does she think as I thought, when Betwixt the dancing maids and men, Twixt the porch rose-boughs blossomed red I saw the roses on my bed?
GILES
Hath he such fear within his heart As I had, when the wind did part The jasmine-leaves, and there within The new-lit taper glimmered thin?
THE MUSIC
(As the EMPEROR and EMPRESS enter.)
_LOVE IS ENOUGH; though the World be a-waning And the woods have no voice but the voice of complaining, Though the sky be too dark for dim eyes to discover The gold-cups and daisies fair blooming thereunder; Though the hills be held shadows, and the sea a dark wonder, And this day draw a veil over all deeds pa.s.sed over, Yet their hands shall not tremble, their feet shall not falter, The void shall not weary, the fear shall not alter These lips and these eyes of the loved and the lover._
THE EMPEROR
The spears flashed by me, and the swords swept round, And in war"s hopeless tangle was I bound, But straw and stubble were the cold points found, For still thy hands led down the weary way.
THE EMPRESS
Through hall and street they led me as a queen, They looked to see me proud and cold of mien, I heeded not though all my tears were seen, For still I dreamed of thee throughout the day.
THE EMPEROR
Wild over bow and bulwark swept the sea Unto the iron coast upon our lee, Like painted cloth its fury was to me, For still thy hands led down the weary way.
THE EMPRESS
They spoke to me of war within the land, They bade me sign defiance and command; I heeded not though thy name left my hand, For still I dreamed of thee throughout the day.
THE EMPEROR
But now that I am come, and side by side We go, and men cry gladly on the bride And tremble at the image of my pride, Where is thy hand to lead me down the way?
THE EMPRESS
But now that thou art come, and heaven and earth Are laughing in the fulness of their mirth, A shame I knew not in my heart has birth-- --Draw me through dreams unto the end of day!
THE EMPEROR
Behold, behold, how weak my heart is grown Now all the heat of its desire is known!
Pearl beyond price I fear to call mine own, Where is thy hand to lead me down the way?