BOOK II

BOOK II

“Stay, let us talk,” came words sweet like honey

From my beloved’s lips. “Mine intent with

Thee is wholly true, love. These eyes fixed fast

Upon thy form are fully thyn, these lips

Are thyn for whatever thou wilt have them

Do. To speak of that love I hold for thee,

To smile and laugh at the sound of thy sweet

Tender voice, to kiss those savory fruits

That serve as thy lips. All this and more, love

If thou may endure it. These two arms will

Embrace thee night and day, to hold thee safe

Against mine chest from dusk’s fade to dawn’s light,

For me to be the first and last thee shall

See. What love could I give that wouldst give thee

Satisfaction of mine intent? What truth

Wouldst thou take with thee this night? An holy

Vow made upon some starry phantom, some high

Celestial orb that is no constant but

In change? Would such a vow please thee, and keep

Thee in my love? Or some passion filled and

Lofty declaration of love? Should I

Climb some nearby hill and from such lofty

Heights proclaim my love with full resounding

Voice? Tell me, love, what I must do to keep

Thee happy here.”

So warm’d was I by his hearty words that

No sound could I make, but sin in lovely

Awe and peace. Then much his words went thru my

Soul, and heard them I with new thoughts devised.

“Wholly true be thyn intent? Thou speakest

Not of that, my dear. No, but of which many

Affections thou wouldst show’r upon me both

Day and endless night. Don’t tempt me with words

Carnal and damnable for thou art wrong to

Speak to me thus. What true intent thou hast,

Thou hast not spoken of it yet.”

Downcast my beloved set his blue-green

Eyes and withdrew himself from me. To some

Great high window he stole, and look’d out over

The earth beneath his feet. “Thou wouldst have me

To be an honorable man, but thou seekest

Too much. I give thee freely all of who I

Am, but I fear it shall fall too short for

Thyn holy quest. Wait, for in fair light of

Day many shall be there to bear thee witness

To mine most unholy, profaned, ill bred

Character, and all who see thee brim with

Adoration of such unworthy beast

Shall rend thee hence from whatever grasp I hold.

For non of this world shall look upon me

And see what with eyes of love thou doest so

Cherishingly behold. I would not for

All the world, these moonlit trees, the ever mov’d

Sparkle of yon water, to see thee brought low

Before all who held thee once dear. If thou

Find my plea likewise unworthy, I free

Thee from whatever blessed bond brought thee here,

And beg thee, speak of this to none and leave

Me to my ever-reaching grief. I have

Lost thee, which is death enough without the

Public pleasantries.”

“So quickly forgotten that love which was

Held so dear. Hast thou lost me to the grave

So soon? I do not feel as if I am

Dead and in the tomb. No, but cold as death

For thou hast cast me off thus with haste. Should

I turn from thee so dearly held with so

Much speed? Even if I wilt it so, I could

Not offend thee such, so violent and

Stained. If thou doest love me, with pure and

Holy, true and honest love, then whatever

Pains may be inflicted shall be endured.

But what is this thou seek to profess, that

Thou art some profaned, unholy beast so

Unworthy of mine discerning eye? Thou

Do wrong thyself in such misgiving speech.

I love thee, that is enough. I look on

Thee and like, that is enough. Thou needst only

Make thy request of me, and all the world

Shall I lay at thy feet. Settle with thyn

Holy self, how much thou love and why. The

Truth be told ere either us go.”