Analogies

Of Rosamond the beautiful, of her The joy and pride of Cunimund,--last king Of the fierce Gepidæ,--a warrior Such as the old-world minstrels loved to sing, To Alboin, Prince of Lombardy,--at war With Cunimund her father,--fame did bring Report of such proud loveliness and grace That he had loved her ere he saw her face.

War was between them and the hate of thrones: For he had slain a son of Turismund And brother of King Cunimund. His bones Were as a wall between desire--unsunned Of such encouragement as young Love owns; Young Love, before the ruined lips that stunned Appeal with dead defiance, and the grim Confrontment mocking as the hopes of him.--

Such oft is Life! that, standing with despair, Looks on some crime,--as looked the conqueror Of Rosamond,--ere goaded on to dare Fate through the stern arbitrament of war: Death smiles within the danger of her hair; Defeat, more deadly than the wild Avar, Looks, armored, from her eyes; and in her mouth An exarch marshals legions from the south.

Yet, should he so prevail against her might-- Her woman Pride, her hosts of beautiful Angers and scorns--that she be forced, some night, To pledge him faith in Hate’s full cup, a skull-- What though he sees Revenge writ, fiery white, Upon her brow! revenge, that hides a dull Poison for sleep, or dagger all prepared!-- Life writes not Failure where Fate writes He dared.