DEDICATION
  TOALICESWINBURNE。
  I。
  ThelovethatcomesandgoeslikewindorfireHathwordsandwingswherewithtospeakandflee。
  Butlovemoredeepthanpassion’sdeepdesire,Clearandinviolableastheunsoundedsea,Whatwingsofwordsmayservetosetitfree,Toliftandleadithomeward?TimeanddeathArelessthanlove:orman’slivespiritsaithFalse,whenhedeemshislifeismorethanbreath。
  II。
  Nowordsmayutterlove;nosovereignsongSpeakallitwouldforlove’ssake。YetwouldI
  FaincastinmouldedrhymesthatdomewrongSomelittlepartofallmylove:butwhyShouldweakandwinglesswordsbefaintofly?
  Forustheyearsthatlivenotarenotdead:
  Pastdaysandpresentinourheartsarewed:
  Mysongcansaynomorethanlovehathsaid。
  III。
  LoveneedsnorsongnorspeechtosaywhatloveWouldspeakorsing,werespeechandsongnotweakTobearthesense—belatedsoulaboveAndbidthelipsofsilencebreatheandspeak。
  NorpowernorwillhaslovetofindorseekWordsindiscoverable,amplerstrainsofsongThaneverhailedhimfairorshewedhimstrong:
  Andlessthantheseshoulddohimworsethanwrong。
  IV。
  WewhoremembernotadaywhereinWehavenotlovedeachother,——whocanseeNotime,sincetimebadefirstourdaysbegin,Withinthesweepofmemory’swings,whenweHaveknownnotwhateachother’slovemustbe,—
  Wearewellcontenttoknowit,andrestonthis,Andcallnotwordstowitnessthatitis。
  Tolovealoudisofttoloveamiss。
  V。
  ButifthegraciouswitnessborneofwordsTakenotfromspeechlesslovethesecretgraceThatbindsitroundwithsilence,andengirdsItsheartwithmemoriesfairasheaven’sownface,LetlovetakecourageforalittlespaceTospeakandberebukednotofthesoul,Whoseutterance,eretheunwittingspeechbewhole,Rebukesitself,andcravesagaincontrol。
  VI。
  Aninefoldgarlandwroughtofsong—flowersnineWoundeachwitheachinchance—inwovenaccordHereatyourfeetIlayasonashrineWhereoftheholiestlovethatlivesislord。
  Withfaintstrangehuestheirleavesarefreakedandscored:
  Thefable—floweringlandwhereintheygrewHathdreamsforstars,andgreyromancefordew:
  Perchancenoflowerthencepluckedmayfloweranew。
  VII。
  NoparthavethesewanlegendsinthesunWhoseglorylightensGreeceandgleamsonRome。
  Theirelderslive:butthese——theirdayisdone,TheirrecordswrittenofthewindinfoamFlydownthewind,anddarknesstakesthemhome。
  WhatHomersaw,whatVirgildreamed,wastruth,Anddiesnot,beingdivine:butwhence,insooth,Mightshadesthatneverlivedwindeathlessyouth?
  VIII。
  Thefieldsoffable,bythefeetoffaithUntrodden,bloomnotwheresuchdeepmistdrives。
  Deadfancy’sghost,notlivingfancy’swraith,IsnowthestoriedsorrowthatsurvivesFaithintherecordoftheselifelesslives。
  YetMilton’ssacredfeethavelingeredthere,Hislipshavemadeaugustthefabulousair,Hishandshavetouchedandleftthewildweedsfair。
  IX。
  So,insomevoidandthought—untrammelledhour,Letthesefindgrace,mysister,inyoursight,WhoseglancebutcastoncasualthingshathpowerTodothesun’swork,biddingallbebrightWithcomfortgivenoflove:forloveislight。
  Werealltheworldofsongmademinetogive,Thebestwereyoursofallitsflowersthatlive:
  Thoughleastofallbethismygift,forgive。
  July1887。
  PERSONSREPRESENTED。
  LOCRINE,KingofBritain。
  CAMBER,KingofWales,brothertoLOCRINE。
  MADAN,sontoLOCRINEandGUENDOLEN。
  DEBON,LordChamberlain。
  GUENDOLEN,QueenofBritain,cousinandwifetoLOCRINE。
  ESTRILD,aGermanprincess,widowoftheScythiankingHUMBER。
  SABRINA,daughtertoLOCRINEandESTRILD。
  Scene,BRITAIN。
  ACTI。
  SCENEI。——Troynovant。ARoominthePalace。
  EnterGUENDOLENandMADAN。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Child,hastthoulookeduponthygrandsiredead?
  MADAN。
  Ay。
  GUENDOLEN。
  ThenthousawestourBritain’sheartandheadDeath—stricken。SeemednottheremysiretotheeMoregreatthanthine,orallmenliving?WeStandshadowsofthefatherswesurvive:
  Earthbearsnomorenorseessuchbirthsalive。
  MADAN。
  Why,hewasgreatofthews——andwise,thousay’st:
  Yetseemsmysiretomethefairer—faced—
  Thekinglierandthekindlier。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Yea,hiseyesArelikerseasthatfeelthesummeringskiesInconcordofsweetcolour——andhisbrowShinesgentlerthanmyfather’sever:thou,Soseeing,dostwelltoholdthysiresodear。
  MADAN。
  IsaidnotthathislovesatyetsonearMyheartasthinedoth:ratheramIthine,Thouknowest,thanhis。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay——ratherseemsLocrineThysirethanIthymother。
  MADAN。
  Wherefore?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Boy,BecauseofalloursireswhofoughtforTroyMostlikethyfatherandmylordLocrine,Ithink,wasParis。
  MADAN。
  HowmaymandivineThymeaning?BluntamI,thouknowest,ofwit;
  Andscarceyetman——mentellme。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Asknotit。
  Imeantnotthoushouldstunderstand——IspakeAsonethatsighs,toeaseherheartofache,Andwouldnotclotheinwordshercauseforsighs—
  Hernakedcauseofsorrow。
  MADAN。
  Wertthouwise,Mother,thytonguehadchosenoftwothingsone—
  Silence,orspeech。
  GUENDOLEN。
  SpeechhadIchosen,myson,Ihadwrongedthee——yea,perchanceIhavewrongedthineearsToofar,tosaysomuch。
  MADAN。
  Nay,thesearetearsThatgathertowardthineeyelidsnow。ThouhastbrokenSilence——ifnowthyspeechdiedownunspoken,Thoudostmewrongindeed——butmorethanmineThewrongthoudostthyselfis。
  GUENDOLEN。
  AndLocrine—
  Werenotthysirewrongedlikewiseofme?
  MADAN。
  Yea。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Yet——Imaychooseyet——nothingwillIsayMore。
  MADAN。
  Choose,andhavethychoice;itgallsnotme。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Son,son!thyspeechisbittererthanthesea。
  MADAN。
  Yet,werethegulfsofhellnotbitterer,thineMightmatchthyson’s,whohastcalledmysire——Locrine—
  Thylord,andlordofallthisland——thekingWhosenameisbrightandsweetasearthinspring,WhoseloveismixedwithBritain’sverylifeAsheavenwithearthatsunrise——thou,hiswife,Hastcalledhim——andthepoisonofthewordSetnotthytongueonfire——Ilivedandheard—
  Coward。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouliest。
  MADAN。
  Ifthenthyspeechrangtrue,Why,nowitringsnotfalse。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thouarttreacheroustoo—
  Hisheart,thyfather’sveryheartisthine—
  O,wellbeseemsit,meetitis,Locrine,ThatliarandtraitorandchangelingheshouldbeWho,thoughIbarehim,wasbegotbythee。
  MADAN。
  HowhaveIlied,mother?Wasthisthelie,Thatthoudidstcallmyfathercoward,andI
  Heard?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay——IdidbutlikenhimwithoneNotallunlikehim;thou,mychild,hisson,Artmoreunlikethyfather。
  MADAN。
  Wasnotthen,Ofallourfathers,allrecordedmen,Themanwhosename,thousayest,islikehisname—
  Paris——asigninallmen’smouthsofshame?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay,savewhenheavenwouldcrosshiminthefight,Hebarehim,saytheminstrels,asaknight—
  Yea,likethyfather。
  MADAN。
  ShamethenwereitnoneThoughmenshouldlikenmetohim?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Myson,Ihadratherseethee——seethybravebrighthead,Stronglimbs,cleareyes——dropherebeforemedead。
  MADAN。
  Ifheweretrueman,wherefore?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Falsewashe;
  Nocowardindeed,butfaithless,trothless——weHoldtherefore,asthousayest,hisprincelynameUnprincely——deadinhonour——quickinshame。
  MADAN。
  Andhistominethoulikenest?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thine?tothine?
  GodratherstrikethylifeasdarkasmineThantarnishthusthinehonour!FortomeShamefulitseems——Iknownotifitbe—
  Formentolie,andsmile,andswear,andlie,Andbearthegodsofheavenfalsewitness。I
  Canholdnotthisbutshameful。
  MADAN。
  Thoudostwell。
  IhadliefercastmysoulalivetohellThanplayafalsemanfalse。ButwerehetrueAndIthetraitor——thenwhatheavenshoulddoIwotnot,butmyself,beingonceawakeOutofthattreasonoustrance,werefaintoslakeWithallmybloodthefireofshamewhereinMysoulshouldburnmelivinginmysin。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thysoul?Yea,there——howknowestthou,boy,sowell?—
  Thefireislitthatfeedsthefiresofhell。
  Mineisaflamethislongtimenow——butthine—
  O,howshallGodforgivetheethis,Locrine,Thatthou,forshameofthesethytreasonsdone,Hastrentthesoulinsunderofthyson?
  MADAN。
  Myheartiswholeyet,thoughthyspeechbefireWhoseflamelaysholduponit。HathmysireWrongedthee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Nay,child,Ilied——Ididbutrave—
  Ijested——wasmyface,then,sadandgrave,WhenmostIjestedwiththee?Child,mybrainIswearied,andmyheartworndownwithpain:
  Ithoughtawhile,forverysorrow’ssake,Toplaywithsorrow——trythyspirit,andtakeComfort——GodknowsIknownotwhatIsaid,Myfather,whomIloved,beingnewlydead。
  MADAN。
  IpraytheethatthoujestwithmenomoreThus。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Dostthounowbelieveme?
  MADAN。
  No。
  GUENDOLEN。
  IboreAbravemanwhenIborethee。
  MADAN。
  IdesireNomoreoflaudorleasing。HathmysireWrongedthee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Never。Butwiltthoutrustmenow?
  MADAN。
  AstrustfulamI,motherofmine,asthou。
  EnterLOCRINE。
  LOCRINE。
  Thegodsbegoodtothee!Howfarestthou?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Well。
  Heavenhathnopowertohurtmemore:andhellNofiretofear。TheworldIdweltindiedWithmydeadfather。King,thyworldiswideWhereinthysoulrejoicinglyputstrust:
  Butmineisstrait,andbuiltbydeathofdust。
  LOCRINE。
  Thysire,mineuncle,stoodthesoleman,then,Thatheldthylifeuphappy?Guendolen,Hastthounorchildnorhusband——orareweWorthnoremembrancemoreatallofthee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thyspeechissweet;thineeyesareflowersthatshine:
  Ifeversirenbareason,Locrine,ToreigninsomegreenislandandbearswayOnshoresmoreshiningthanthefrontofdayAndcliffswhosebrightnessdullsthemorning’sbrow,Thatsonofsorceriesandofseasartthou。
  LOCRINE。
  Nay,nowthytongueitisthatplaysonmen;
  Andyetnosiren’shoney,Guendolen,Isthisfairspeech,thoughsoftasbreathesthesouth,WhichthusIkisstosilenceonthymouth。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thysoulissofterthanthisboy’softhine:
  Hisheartisalltowardbattle。WasitmineThatputsuchfireinhis?fornonethatheardThyflatteries——nay,Itakenotbacktheword—
  Aflatteringloverlivesmylovinglord—
  Couldguessthinehandsogreatwithspearorsword。
  LOCRINE。
  WhathaveIdonefortheetomockwithpraiseAndmaketheboy’seyeswiden?AllmydaysAreworthnotallaweek,ifwarbeall,Ofhisthatlovednobloodlessfestival—
  Thysire,andsireofslaughters:thiswasoneWhocravednomoreofcomfortfromthesunButlighttolightenhimtowardbattle:I
  Lovenosuchlifeasbidsmenkillordie。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Wertthounotwomanmoreinwordthanact,ThenunrevengedthybrotherAlbanactHadgivenhisbloodtoguardhisrealmandthine:
  Buthethatslewhimfoundthystroke,Locrine,Strongasthyspeechisgentle。
  LOCRINE。
  GodassoilThedeadourfriendsandfoes!
  GUENDOLEN。
  AgoodlyspoilWasthatthinehandmadethenbyHumber’sbanksOfallwhoswelledtheScythian’sriotousranksWithstormofinlandsurfandsurgeofsteel:
  Nonetherewereleft,iftonguesringtrue,tofeelTheyokeofdaysthatbreathesubmissivebreathMorebitterthanthebitterestedgeofdeath。
  LOCRINE。
  None。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thiswasthenadayofblood。Iheard,ButknownotwhenceIcaughtthewanderingword,Strangewomenwerethereofthatoutlandcrew,Whomruthlesslythysoldiersraveningslew。
  LOCRINE。
  Nay,Scythiansthenhadwebeen,worsethanthey。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thesethatweretaken,then,thoudidstnotslay?
  LOCRINE。
  Ididnotsaywesparedthem。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Slaynorspare?
  LOCRINE。
  Howiftheywerenot?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Whatalbeittheywere?
  Smallhurt,meseems,myhusband,haditbeenThoughBritishhandshadhaledaScythianqueen—
  Ifsuchwerefound——somewomanfoulandfierce—
  Todeath——oraughtweholdforshame’ssakeworse。
  LOCRINE。
  Forshame’sownsakethehandthatshouldnotfearTotakesuchmonstrousworkuponithere,Anddidnotwitherfromthewrist,shouldbeHewnofferehanging。Wolvesormenarewe,Thatthoushouldstquestionthis?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Notwolves,butmen,Surely:forbeastsareloyal。
  LOCRINE。
  Guendolen,Whatirksthee?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Noughtsavegriefandlove;Locrine,Agrievouslove,alovinggriefismine。
  Herestandsmyhusband:theremyfatherlies:
  Iknownotifthereliveineither’seyesMorelove,morelifeofcomfort。ThisoursonLovesme:butisthereelseleftlivingoneThatlovesmebackasIlove?
  LOCRINE。
  Nay,buthowHasthiswildquestionfiredthineheart?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Notthou!
  NoparthaveI——nay,neverhadIpart—
  Ourchildthathearsmeknowsit——inthineheart。
  ThysireitwasthatbadeourhandsbeoneForloveofmine,hisbrother:thou,hisson,Didstgivenot——no——butyieldthyhandtomine,Tominethylips——nottheetome,Locrine。
  Thyhearthasdweltfaroffmealltheseyears;
  YethaveIneversoughtwithsmilesortearsTolureormeltitmeward。Ihaveborne—
  Ithathavebornetotheethisboy——thyscorn,Thygentleness,thytenderwordsthatbiteMoredeepthanshamewould,shouldstthouspurnorsmiteTheselimbsandlipsmadethinebycontract——madeNowife’s,noqueen’s——aservant’s——nay,thyshade。
  TheshadowamI,mylordandking,ofthee,Whoartspiritandsubstance,bodyandsoultome。
  Andnow,——nay,speaknot——nowmysireisdeadThouthink’sttocastmecrownlessfromthybedWhereinIbroughttheeforthasonthatnowShallperishwithme,ifthouwilt——andthouShaltliveandlaughtothinkofus——oryetPlayfaithmorefoul——playfalser,andforget。
  LOCRINE。
  Sharpgriefhascrazedthybrain。Thouknowestofme—
  GUENDOLEN。
  IknowthatnoughtIknow,Locrine,ofthee。
  LOCRINE。
  Whatbidstheethenrevileme,knowingnocause?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Strongsorrowknowsbutsorrow’slawlesslaws。
  LOCRINE。
  Yettheseshouldturnnotgrieftoragingfire。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Theyshouldnot,hadmyheartmyheart’sdesire。
  LOCRINE。
  WouldGodthatlove,myqueen,couldgivetheethis!
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thoudostnotcallmewife——norcall’stamiss。
  LOCRINE。
  Whatnameshouldservetostaythisfitfulstrife?
  GUENDOLEN。
  Thoudostnotilltocallmenotthywife。
  LOCRINE。
  Mysisterwellnighwastthouonce:andnow—
  GUENDOLEN。
  ThysisterneverI:mybrotherthou。
  LOCRINE。
  Howshallmansoundthisriddle?Readitme。
  GUENDOLEN。
  Aslovesasister,neverlovedIthee。