LOVE'S FATALITY

Sweet Love,— but oh! most dread Desire of Love

Life-thwarted. Linked in gyves I saw them stand,

Love shackled with Vain-longing, hand to hand:

And one was eyed as the blue vault above:

But hope tempestuous like a fire-cloud hove

I’ the other's gaze, even as in his whose wand

Vainly all night with spell-wrought power has spann'd

The unyielding caves of some deep treasure-trove.

Also his lips, two writhen flakes of flame,

Made moan:‘ Alas O Love, thus leashed with me!

Wing-footed thou, wing-shouldered, once born free:

And I, thy cowering self, in chains grown tame,

Bound to thy body and soul, named with thy name,

Life's iron heart, even Love's Fatality.’