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LIFE OR LOVE.
All day, like the dead king's shadow, she keeps
Her place at the dead king's feet."
Her place at the dead king's feet."
"Your beauty is worth all other things,
The insolent gods have seen.
It should not fade—for a thousand kings.
You shall be for ever the queen."
The insolent gods have seen.
It should not fade—for a thousand kings.
You shall be for ever the queen."
And closer the Master held the charm:
"It is Life, O queen, that I bring."
She reached the cup with a wandering arm:
"Is it Life—for my lord, the king?"
"It is Life, O queen, that I bring."
She reached the cup with a wandering arm:
"Is it Life—for my lord, the king?"
"Nay, the king will not drink wine to-day.
There is one drop here—for you.
Ob, listen, and keep your beauty, I pray,
While the sweet world keeps the dew.
There is one drop here—for you.
Ob, listen, and keep your beauty, I pray,
While the sweet world keeps the dew.
"For you, new lovers shall always rise;"
And the lords and the princes near,
With the sunrise-light in their Persian eyes,
Stood, jewelled and still, to hear.
And the lords and the princes near,
With the sunrise-light in their Persian eyes,
Stood, jewelled and still, to hear.
"Oh, what were Life to the lonely—what?
It is Love I would have you bring,
And Love in this widowed world is not.
Let me go to my lord, the king."
It is Love I would have you bring,
And Love in this widowed world is not.
Let me go to my lord, the king."
