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men's souls Should do men good； give alms； relieve men's pain； You have
the better； being more fair than they； They are half foul； being rather good
than fair； You are quite fair： to be quite fair is best。 Why； two nights hence
I dreamed that I could see In through your bosom under the left flower；
And there was a round hollow； and at heart A little red snake sitting；
without spot； That bitlike this； and sucked up sweetlike this； And curled
its lithe light body right and left； And quivered like a woman in act to love。
Then there was some low fluttered talk i' the lips； Faint sound of soft
fierce words caressing them Like a fair woman's when her love gets way。
Ah； your old kissI know the ways of it： Let the lips cling a little。 Take
them off； And speak some word or I go mad with love。
QUEEN。 Will you not have my chaplain come to you？
CHASTELARD。 Some better thing of yourssome handkerchief；
Some fringe of scarf to make confession to You had some book about
you that fell out
QUEEN。 A little written book of Ronsard's rhymes； His gift； I wear in
there for love of him See； here between our feet。
CHASTELARD。 Ay； my old lord's The sweet chief poet； my dear
friend long since？ Give me the book。 Lo you； this verse of his： With
coming lilies in late April came Her body； fashioned whiter for their
shame； And roses； touched with blood since Adon bled； From her fair
color filled their lips with red： A goodly praise： I could not praise you so。 I
read that while your marriage…feast went on。 Leave me this book； I pray
you： I would read The hymn of death here over ere I die； I shall know
soon how much he knew of death When that was written。 One thing I
know now； I shall not die with half a heart at least； Nor shift my face； nor
weep my fault alive； Nor swear if I might live and do new deeds I would
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
do better。 Let me keep the book。
QUEEN。 Yea； keep it： as would God you had kept your life Out of
mine eyes and hands。 I am wrong to the heart： This hour feels dry and
bitter in my mouth； As if its sorrow were my body's food More than my
soul's。 There are bad thoughts in me Most bitter fancies biting me like
birds That tear each other。 Suppose you need not die？
CHASTELARD。 You know I cannot live for two hours more。 Our fate
was made thus ere our days were made： Will you fight fortune for so small
a grief？ But for one thing I were full fain of death。
QUEEN。 What thing is that？
CHASTELARD。 No need to name the thing。 Why； what can death do
with me fit to fear？ For if I sleep I shall not weep awake； Or if their saying
be true of things to come； Though hell be sharp； in the worst ache of it I
shall be eased so God will give me back Sometimes one golden gracious
sight of you The aureole woven flowerlike through your hair； And in
your lips the little laugh as red As when it came upon a kiss and ceased；
Touching my mouth。
QUEEN。 As I do now； this way； With my heart after： would I could
shed tears； Tears should not fail when the heart shudders so。 But your bad
thought？
CHASTELARD。 Well； such a thought as this： It may be； long time
after I am dead； For all you are； you may see bitter days； God may forget
you or be wroth with you： Then shall you lack a little help of me； And I
shall feel your sorrow touching you； A happy sorrow； though I may not
touch： I that would fain be turned to flesh again； Fain get back life to give
up life for you； To shed my blood for help； that long ago You shed and
were not holpen： and your heart Will ache for help and comfort； yea for
love； And find less love than minefor I do think You never will be loved
thus in your life。
QUEEN。 It may be man will never love me more； For I am sure I shall
not love man twice。
CHASTELARD。 I know not： men must love you in life's spite； For
you will always kill them； man by man Your lips will bite them dead； yea；
though you would； You shall not spare one； all will die of you； I cannot
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Algernon Charles Swinburne； _Chastelard； a tragedy_ 。 Boston： E。P。 Dutton； 1866。
tell what love shall do with these； But I for all my love shall have no might
To help you more； mine arms and hands no power To fasten on you more。
This cleaves my heart； That they shall never touch your body more。 But
for your griefyou will not have to grieve； For being in such poor eyes so
beautiful It must needs be as God is more than I So much more love he
hath of you than mine； Yea； God shall not be bitter with my love； Seeing
she is so sweet。
QUEEN。 Ah my sweet fool； Think you when God will ruin me for sin
My face of color shall prevail so much With him； so soften the toothed
iron's edge To save my throat a scar？ nay； I am sure I shall die somehow
sadly。
CHASTELARD。 This is pure grief； The shadow of your pity for my
death； Mere foolishness of pity： all sweet moods Throw out such little
shadows of themselves； Leave such light fears behind。 You； die like me？
Stretch your throat out that I may kiss all round Where mine shall be cut
through： suppose my mouth The axe…edge to bite so sweet a throat in
twain With bitter iron； should not it turn soft As lip is soft to lip？
QUEEN。 I am quite sure I shall die sadly some day； Chastelard； I am
quite certain。
CHASTELARD。 Do not think such things； Lest all my next world's
memories of you be As heavy as this thought。
QUEEN。 I will not grieve you； Forgive me that my thoughts were sick
with grief。 What can I do to give you ease at heart？ Shall I kiss now？ I
pray you have no fear But that I love you。
CHASTELARD。 Turn your face to me； I do not grudge your face this
death of mine； It is too fairby God； you are too fair。 What noise is that？
QUEEN。 Can the hour be through so soon？ I bade them give me but a
little hour。 Ah！ I do love you！ such brief space for love！ I am yours all
through； do all your will with me； What if we lay and let them take us fast；
Lips grasping lips？ I dare do anything。
CHASTELARD。 Show better cheer： let no man see you mazed； Make
haste and kiss me； cover up your throat Lest one see tumbled lace and
prate of it。
＇Enter the Guard： MURRA