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The Dreamer becomes Love’s liege My life away. What so you deem
Most fitting, e’en though good it seem
To you to prison me or slay,
Speak but the word, and I obey.
My life is yours to waste or save,
I render me your bounden slave.1990

’Tis you alone have power to give
Or joy or penance while I live.
If your strong hand, which hath but late
Betrayed my soul to hardest fate,
Refuseth now its woes to cure,
Or prisons me,—O be you sure
I shall not murmur nor complain,
Of your decree my heart is fain.
For if with yours my heart is whole,
I nought need reck of shame or dole:2000
But trust you will in due time grant
That grace for which my soul doth pant.”
This said, I dropped upon my knee,
With will to kiss his foot; but he,
His hand in mine, said: “Well content
Am I with thee; such words ne’er went
From out a rebel’s mouth, and thou,
For that fair speech, shalt win thee now
Great honour. Homage unto me
’Tis thine to do, and grant I thee2010
This boon—my very mouth to kiss;
Such favour ne’er permitted is
To villains, churls, or such as be
Mere striplings; ’tis a warranty
Of Love’s sweet mercy, and alone
Permitted those whose hearts are known