pon the world,
But finding all is well, steps forth, and lo!
Out of her courage the great sun is born.
So doth the heart look outward after grief
To find the world all dark, but nay, the light
Is more of heaven than it was before,
Because a face is shining from the clouds.
You dim your loved one's eyes in paradise
With your earth-tears. He mourns your splendor paled,--
Though 't must be beautiful to the last tint,
As sunset clouds that bear the heart of day
Into the night.

Asef. You but offend my grief.
Sir, keep your flattery for her you love!

Char. I flatter thee? It is not possible!
Who dares to add fire to the sun, or bring
The Spring a flower? Be angry if you will.
The morning's eye is not more glorious
Rising above a storm! I flatter thee!
When but to praise thee as thou art would put
A blush on Poesy that ne'er has rhymed
As I would speak! E'en thy defects would make
Another fair, and were they merchantable
Women would buy thy faults to adorn themselves!
O, sweet--

Asef. (Shrinking in horror)
What do you mean?

Char. (Seizing her hands) You know!
O, all my life has been but dreams of you,
And when I saw you first, my love!--my love!--
As lightning makes the midnight landscape speak
The language of the day, your beauty flashed
O'er all my years and made their meaning clear!
'Twas you made sweet the song of every bird,
'Twas you I found in every book I loved,
'Twas you that gave a soul to every star!
I can not speak it! Kiss me once--but once--
And you will understand!

Asef. What thing is this?
It is not man, for man respecteth sorrow,
Nor brute, for it doth speak!

Char. O look not down!
Thou canst not guard thee! Every silken sweep
Of thine eyes' soft defence but whets assault!
You shall not go! You are the element
In which I breathe! Go from me and I fall
A lifeless thing! Aseffa, pity me!
'Tis I who die, not you! (Drops her hands and kneels)