Now be this Fancy, by Heaven or be it Fate,
Still will I not descend. Baldazzar make
Apology unto the Duke for me;
I go not down to-night.
BALDAZZAR
Your lordship's pleasure
Shall be attended to. Good-night, Politian.
POLITIAN
Good-night, my friend, good-night.
IV.
The gardens of a Palace- Moonlight
LALAGE, and POLITIAN
LALAGE
And dost thou speak of love
To me, Politian?- dost thou speak of love
To Lalage?- ah, woe- ah, woe is me!
This mockery is most cruel- most cruel indeed!
POLITIAN
Weep not! oh, sob not thus!- thy bitter tears
Will madden me. Oh, mourn not, Lalage-
Be comforted! I know- I know it all,
And still I speak of love. Look at me, brightest
And beautiful Lalage!- turn here thine eyes!
Thou askest me if I could speak of love,
Knowing what I know, and seeing what I have seen.
Thou askest me that- and thus I answer thee-
Thus on my bended knee I answer thee. (Kneeling)
Sweet Lalage, I love thee- love thee- love thee;
Thro' good and ill- thro' weal and woe I love thee.
Not mother, with her first-born on her knee,
Thrills with intenser love than I for thee.
Not on God's altar, in any time or clime,
Burned there a holier fire than burneth now
Within my spirit for thee.
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