To lie by thee to-night my mind is. So,"—
She laughed,—"sleep well!—For me ... give me thy word
Of knighthood!—look thou!... and this naked sword
Laid here betwixt us!... Let it be a wall
Strong between love and lust an lov'st me all in all."
Then she unbound the gold that clasped her waist:
Undid her hair: and, like a flower faced,
Stood sweet an unswayed stem that ran to bud
In bloom and beauty of young womanhood.
And fragrance was to her as natural