Page:Aurora Leigh a Poem.djvu/113

Without the natural shame which creatures feel
When speaking on their level, to their like.
There’s many a papist she, would rather die
Than own to her maid she put a ribbon on
To catch the indifferent eye of such a man,—
Who yet would count adulteries on her beads
At holy Mary’s shrine, and never blush;
Because the saints are so far off, we lose
All modesty before them. Thus, to-day.
’Tis I, love Romney Leigh.’
‘Forbear,’ I cried.
‘If here’s no muse, still less is any saint;
Nor even a friend, that Lady Waldemar
Should make confessions’ . .
‘That’s unkindly said.
If no friend, what forbids to make a friend
To join to our confession ere we have done?
I love your cousin. If it seems unwise
To say so, it’s still foolisher (we’re frank)
To feel so. My first husband left me young,
And pretty enough, so please you, and rich enough,
To keep my booth in May-fair with the rest
To happy issues. There are marquises
Would serve seven years to call me wife, I know:
And, after seven, I might consider it,
For there’s some comfort in a marquisate
When all’s said,—yes, but after the seven years;
I, now, love Romney. You put up your lip,
So like a Leigh! so like him!—Pardon me,

I am well aware I do not derogate