Unto whom her brethren and parents espoused her a little agone;

And for shame and for thinking on him awhile she cannot face

The eyes of her handmaids, but silent she sits in a secret place.

Some doom hath destroyed him, or ever the crown of their desire {660}

Was attained of these: and there in her chamber, with heart on fire

Stilly she sitteth and weepeth, beholding her couch left lorn;

Stilly—for fear of the mock of the women, the laugh of their scorn

Like her did Medea make moan: but with sob and with broken cry

While yet she lamented, it chanced one heard as she passed thereby,

Which had been from a child a handmaid tending her lady’s bower