Shone but to light his steps to love and fun,

While she, that golden and beloved soul,

Worth ten of him, lay wasting like an unlit coal.

So supper passed; the meat in Lion's gorge

Stuck at the last, he could not bide that face.

The idle laughter on it plied the forge

Where hate was smithying tools; the jokes, the place,

Wrought him to wrath; he could not stay for grace.

The tin mug full of red wine spilled and fell.

He kicked his stool aside with "Michael, this is hell.