Then from her knees uprose the stately queen,
And, seeing her ladies titter, ’gan to frown
With those great eyes wherein methinks were seen
Lights that outflashed the lustres in her crown,—
Great eyes that looked the shallow women down.
“Nay, not for love,”—’twas like a sudden bliss,
The full sweet measured music of her tongue,—
“Nay, not for love’s sake did I give the kiss,
Not for his beauty, who’s nor fair nor young,
But for the songs which those mute lips have sung!”