Modern Love: IX

He felt the wild beast in him between whiles So masterfully rude, that he would grieve To see the helpless delicate thing receive His guardianship through certain dark defiles. Had he not teeth to rend, and hunger too? But still be spared her. Once: ‘Have you no fear?’ He said: ’t was dusk; she in his grasp; none near. She laughed: ‘No, surely; am I not with you?’ And uttering that soft starry ‘you,’ she leaned Her gentle body near him, looking up; And from her eyes, as from a poison-cup, He drank until the flittering eyelids screened. Devilish malignant witch! and oh, young beam Of heaven’s circle-glory! Here thy shape To squeeze like an intoxicating grape— I might, and yet thou goest safe, supreme.