An Empty Glass.
202
My silver-throated orator whose proud
And eager hand, disdaining lesser things
Was stretched to pluck the very topmost fruit
Upon the topmost bough, and here it lies!
Content to clasp weak fingers in my own.
Oh Max, my lover! And shall I begrudge
This poor pale heiress all her legal rights,
Her shadowy status while I hold you thus
Linked to me by a chain she cannot break,
Unlawful though it be. He stirs! he wakes.
This is my only chance. If he is sane
I must so saturate his mind and brain
With this imposture that delirium shall
Not wrest the secret from him. Max! Dear Heart,
Hortense is here, these are her very hands,
This is her voice, these, Darling, are her lips.
Nay! but, my dearest, do not strangle me.
I will not go. I swear I will not go.
I've come to nurse you. You are very ill.
But I shall nurse you. Only listen, Max,
You must not say you know me. I'm Nurse Grey.
Remember just Nurse Grey, and no one else.
If you forget, yes, even once forget,
They'll send me far away. You understand1?
And eager hand, disdaining lesser things
Was stretched to pluck the very topmost fruit
Upon the topmost bough, and here it lies!
Content to clasp weak fingers in my own.
Oh Max, my lover! And shall I begrudge
This poor pale heiress all her legal rights,
Her shadowy status while I hold you thus
Linked to me by a chain she cannot break,
Unlawful though it be. He stirs! he wakes.
This is my only chance. If he is sane
I must so saturate his mind and brain
With this imposture that delirium shall
Not wrest the secret from him. Max! Dear Heart,
Hortense is here, these are her very hands,
This is her voice, these, Darling, are her lips.
Nay! but, my dearest, do not strangle me.
I will not go. I swear I will not go.
I've come to nurse you. You are very ill.
But I shall nurse you. Only listen, Max,
You must not say you know me. I'm Nurse Grey.
Remember just Nurse Grey, and no one else.
If you forget, yes, even once forget,
They'll send me far away. You understand1?
