breath Face to face the lovers stood Whispered, "The Great Duke Fer- A single minute and no more, dinand." That selfsame instant, underneath, The Duke rode past in his idle way, Empty and fine, like a swordless sheath. Gay he rode, with a friend as gay, Till he threw his head back-Who is she?" -"A bride the Riccardi brings home to-day." Hair in heaps lay heavily black tree, While the bridegroom bent as a man subdued Bowed till his bonnet brushed the floor For the Duke on the lady a kiss conferred, As the courtly custom was of yore. In a minute can lovers exchange a word? If a word did pass, which I do not think, Only one out of the thousand heard. That was the bridegroom. At day's brink He and his bride were alone at last Crisped like a war-steed's encolure- eyes She turned on her side and slept. Just so! So we resolve on a thing, and sleep: So did the lady, ages ago. That night the Duke said, “Dear or cheap As the cost of this cup of bliss may prove To body or soul, I will drain it deep." And on the morrow, bold with love, He beckoned the bridegroom (close on call, As his duty bade, by the Duke's alcove) And smiled, "Twas a very funeral, Your lady will think, this feast of BE "And it shall go hard but I contrive To listen the while, and laugh in my If you choose to play!— is my princi tomb At idleness which aspires to strive." So! While these wait the trump of doom, How do their spirits pass, I wonder, Nights and days in the narrow room? ple. Let a man contend to the uttermost For his life's set prize, be it what it will! The counter, our lovers staked, was lost As surely as if it were lawful coin: And the sin I impute to each frustrate ghost |