Page:Love's trilogy.djvu/263

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A BOOK OF LOVE
253

with Olympic serenity lays her in Amphitryon's arms and blesses their embrace with a smile.

Poor Zeus, never to have known the greed of jealousy, your divine blood always running lukewarm and equable. You have attained your heaven; your happiness was devoured long ago, and now you are merely digesting.

But for us there is only one way that leads to happiness: intoxication. And only by storming heaven's gates can we gain admittance. For the first time in my life I am wise. Now I understand that happiness is not to be found first here and then there; it does not lie in the sipping and tasting of many cups. Happiness is a cup we empty to the last drop.

You may place a hundred goblets in a row before me and fill them with the most generous wine. I will leave them one and all untouched, for my cup is Marie. Her love is my wine of which I cannot spare a single drop.


LIVAnd she was to be his! All the beauty I had carefully cultured was to bloom for him. Her smile would brighten his table, and make every day of his week a holy day; her kisses would weave into his sleep the loveliest dreams, her young ardour would strengthen him in his work, and all the sweetness and charm of her being would bring eternal summer to his home.

His it shall be to hear her laugh or weep; in his ears she shall pour all her joys and sorrows. What eternal summer to his home.

His it shall be to hear her laugh or weep; in his ears she shall pour all her joys and sorrows. What