Page:The princess; a medley (IA princessmedley00tennrich).pdf/65

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A MEDLEY.
57
 'Poor boy' she said 'can he not read—no books?Quoit, tennis, ball—no games? nor deals in thatWhich men delight in, martial exercises?To nurse a blind ideal like a girl,Methinks he seems no better than a girl;As girls were once, as we ourselves have been:We had our dreams; perhaps he mixt with them:We touch on our dead self, nor shun to do it,Being other—since we learnt our meaning here,To uplift the woman's fall'n divinityUpon an even pedestal with man.'
 She paused and added with a haughtier smile'And as to precontracts, we move, my friend,At no man's beck, but know ourselves and thee,O Vashti, noble Vashti! Summon'd outShe kept her state, and left the drunken kingTo brawl at Shushan underneath the palms.'
 'Alas your Highness breathes full East,' I said,
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