Page:Aurora Leigh a Poem.djvu/177

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AURORA LEIGH.
You'll set me down as wrong in many things.You've praised me, sir, for truth,—and now you'll learnI had not courage to be rightly true.I once began to tell you how she came,The woman . . and you stared upon the floorIn one of your fixed thoughts . . which put me outFor that day. After, some one spoke of me,So wisely, and of you, so tenderly,Persuading me to silence for your sake . . .Well, well! it seems this moment I was wrongIn keeping back from telling you the truth:There might be truth betwixt us two, at least,If nothing else. And yet 'twas dangerous.Suppose a real angel came from heavenTo live with men and women! he'd go mad,If no considerate hand should tie a blindAcross his piercing eyes. 'Tis thus with you:You see us too much in your heavenly light;I always thought so, angel,—and indeedThere's danger that you beat yourself to deathAgainst the edges of this alien world,In some divine and fluttering pity.'YesIt would be dreadful for a friend of yours,To see all England thrust you out of doorsAnd mock you from the windows. You might say,Or think (that's worse), 'There's some one in the houseI miss and love still.' Dreadful!'Very kind,I pray you mark, was Lady Waldemar.
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