II

How well, how well you woo me with soft speech,

Fire swift my blood with wreathèd word divine!

“If power to choose Love’s own pure tongue were mine,”

You said, “I’d choose Italia’s to teach

You how I love; but If I must beseech

As penitent, mercy, pardon divine—

(As now in love’s proud passion I seek thine)—

O! let us, Sweet, speak Spanish, each to each!”

“But if in haughtiness I would command,