XVI

Sudden a thought came like a full-blown rose,

      Flushing his brow, and in his pained heart

      Made purple riot: then doth he propose

      A stratagem, that makes the beldame start:

      'A cruel man and impious thou art:

      Sweet lady, let her pray, and sleep, and dream

      Alone with her good angels, far apart

      From wicked men like thee. Go, go! I deem

Thou canst not surely be the same that thou didst seem.'