Ottima.I felt you
Taper into a point the ruffled ends
Of my loose locks 'twixt both your humid lips.
My hair is fallen now: knot it again!205
Sebald. I kiss you now, dear Ottima, now and now!
This way? Will you forgive me—be once more
My great queen?
Ottima.Bind it thrice about my brow;
Crown me your queen, your spirit's arbitress,
Magnificent in sin. Say that!
Sebald.I crown you210
My great white queen, my spirit's arbitress,
Magnificent—
[From without is heard the voice of Pippa singing—
The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;215
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn:
God's in his heaven—
All's right with the world!220
[Pippa passes.
Sebald. God's in his heaven! Do you hear that?
Who spoke?
You, you spoke!
Ottima.Oh—that little ragged girl!
She must have rested on the step: we give them
But this one holiday the whole year round.
Did you ever see our silk-mills—their inside?225
There are ten silk-mills now belong to you.
She stoops to pick my double heartsease—Sh!
She does not hear: call you out louder!
Sebald.Leave me!
Go, get your clothes on—dress, those shoulders!