Theatre of Tragedy
Hollow-Heartéd, Heart-Departèd
Filthy harlots - the Lord's grape!
With lore ornamentéd entreating;
Hollow heartéd, heart-departéd -
Yet thou reapest the blooming rose -
When 'tis the weed which is to be swath'd
-- I do in the blooming flower pleasure find!
And me in the yesterday's blind?!
-- Innocence is reserved for the meek:
-- Of naught is my grasp ne'er to be!
Hah! - for thee even a hound holdeth the throne
Unwantéd child of mother! - Plague of plagues!
Father of leprous children
I wield ye to stint this brawl!
Nigh is the ford - yet harken! - do not thwart!
Desirest thou to do it withal
I shall cause thy body by one head too short!
Sayest ye nay to my boon;
Then wilt thou from bloodshed swoon!
-- Err me not! - Must ye bethink my foolhardiness!
-- Be vanishéd! - Be banishéd! -
-- If ye deemest me not wroth
-- My hand hieth to unsheathe the sword
-- Lest thou tost totter -
-- Whid along! - Wherefore irk my haughtiness?
No man... No man at all!, -- Wherefore bereave
Be it lord or beggar -- The kine of the sward?
Bereaveth my dignity! -- Wherefore holdest thou for
-- Me such quailing scowl?
Loom my darling sun -
Bear the scarlet colour!