FLERIDA. Not as others pray.
What need of blessings to protest I loved thee,
When benediction rose with every breath
From my dumb heart to thee? Awake, adream,
In woodland rambles or in household tasks,
I moved in thy love's presence as in God's,
One deity to me.
PALMERIN. How undeserving,
Fair angel, are my merits of thy love!
How could I win it!
FLERIDA. Ah, if God can love thee,
Why should a mortal give a cause for love?
PALMERIN. They say God loves us all.
FLERIDA. Such pitying love
Is his alone who knows the unsullied spirit
Shrouded at birth beneath this fleshly coil,
And can divine the stature of that virtue
Each yet might climb to. But in thee declared
Shine, Palmerin, the hopes of all the world.
What God beheld and destined when he called thee
Out of the void, he granted me to see
First through the haze of maiden dreams and now
With the deep glance of woman.
PALMERIN. Then in sooth
'T was no vain fancy, as the learned say,
That made thy silent presence cross my path
Where'er I turned, for if I slept my dream
Painted thy smile, and when the vision fled
The sunlit fountain met me with thy gaze.
If the birds chirruped, it was _Flerida_,
And _Flerida_ if any minstrel sang.
Thy mien was in the lilies, the thin clouds
Contrived thy garments' fashion, and thy courage
Breathed from the mountains to renew my soul.
Nor was there need, for in these tables here
Thy name, thy looks, thy words, thy noble ways
Were graven deep, and, as the gaudy shadows
Stalked by me which men take for beauteous thing,
I laughed to scorn each feeble counterfeit,
And cried to the sweet image in my soul
How much more bright thou wast and beautiful.
Little I thought the love that brought me blessing
Brought sorrow here to thee.
FLERIDA. If it brought sorrow
That grief was consecrate and offered up
To aid thy noble venture. 'T was my hope
That thy young sinews in a dreamless sleep
Might knit them for the battle, while my vigils
Kept trimmed thy spirit's lamp; so might thy valour,
Fed on my sorrow's riches, greet the morn
With more unsullied and resplendent rays
Than her own shining, and the wondering world
Should praise thy happy courage, little knowing
The hidden might of love that nerved thy arm
And taught thy blithe soul singing.
PALMERIN. Flerida,
Though I should give thee all ray life and blood,
My honour and immortal soul, 't were nothing
By what thou gavest first, and rendering all
That should owe thee this sweet privilege
Of having lived and loved thee.
_Re-enter_ NURSE.
NURSE. Loitering still?
Come, come, the supper's spoiling.
FLERIDA [_pointing to the castle]._ Wilt thou take
Possession of thy poor inheritance?
PALMERIN. 'Tis poor indeed, a case without its jewel,
Till thou be mine.
FLERIDA. Thou hast my plighted troth.
PALMERIN. Ah, pay the debt! my heart has waited long.
FLERIDA. No priest is in attendance, Palmerin.
Till one be duly summoned and arrive
I am my father's hostage in thy hands
Entrusted to thy love and chivalry.
PALMERIN. I long have bivouacked, lady, 'neath the stars,
And I shall better rest beneath their light
While I am still an exile from thy bosom.
Let me not change the canopy of heaven
Except for heaven's self. Before this shrine
I watched my virgin arms on the proud eve
Of my first knighting. On this prouder vigil
Let me hold silent session with my heart
Again before this altar, keeping watch
Over this sweeter boon, my virgin bride
To be to-morrow mine.
FLERIDA [_to the_ NURSE]. Bid them bring hither
Some wine and morsels for Sir Palmerin,
And torches, and their lutes and dulcimers.
[_Exit_ NURSE.
PALMERIN. We sup to-night beneath a lovers' moon
Not quite at full.
FLERIDA. We sup beneath the stars
That never wane, though nether storms obscure
Their revolutions to the wistful eyes
Of mortals. So our love shall never wane
But when its fame on earth is heard no more,
Translated to the language of the skies,
It yet shall be a parcel of that joy
Which saves the world from baseness.
_Attendants with torches and musical instruments
enter, while others bring in supper._