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Dialogue following
No. 12a
ETHAIS has entered unperceived from the bower. He is
very pale and weak, and his arm is in a sling.
| Ethais. |
Selene, I am weak; give me thine hand.
[She goes to him. |
| Selene. |
My love, thou shouldst no yet have
left thy couch.
Come, thou hast need of rest. |
| Ethais. |
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No, let me stay. |
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The air revives me; I am strong again.
And so thou trustest me? |
| Selene. |
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In truth I do. |
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Although I cannot tell thee whence
proceeds
This strange, irrational belief in thee -
Thee, whom I hardly know! |
| Ethais. |
I see no marvel! |
| Selene. |
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Nay, my love - reflect: |
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I am a woman, and thou art a man.
Well, thou art comely - so, in truth, am I.
We meet and love each other - that's to say,
I am prepared to give up all I have,
My home, my very fairyhood for thee -
Thou to surrender riches, honour, life,
To please the fleeting fancies of my will.
And why?
Because I see in thee, or thou in me,
Astounding virtue, brilliant intellect,
Great self-denial, or shining godliness?
No!
Because, forsooth, we're comely specimens,
Not of our own, but Nature's industry! |
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13 March, 2009
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