It follows,—if I fell into such fault,
He also may have overreached the mark,
Made mistake, by perversity of brain,
In the whole sad strange plot, this same intrigue
To make me and my friend unself ourselves,
Be other man and woman than we were!
Think it out, you who have the time! for me,—
I cannot say less; more I will not say. (710)
Leave it to God to cover and undo!
Only, my dulness should not prove too much!
—Not prove that in a certain other point
Wherein my husband blamed me,—and you blame,
If I interpret smiles and shakes of head,—
I was dull too. Oh, if I dared but speak!
Must I speak? I am blamed that I forwent
A way to make my husband’s favour come.
That is true: I was firm, withstood, refused …
—Women as you are, how can I find the words? (720)
I had no right to give nor he to take;
We being in estrangement, soul from soul:
Till, when I sought help, the Archbishop smiled,
Inquiring into privacies of life,
—Said I was blameable—(he stands for God)
Nowise entitled to exemption there.
Then I obeyed,—as surely had obeyed
Were the injunction “Since your husband bids,
“Swallow the burning coal he proffers you!” (730)
But I did wrong, and he gave wrong advice
Though he were thrice Archbishop,—that, I know!—
Now I have got to die and see things clear.
Remember I was barely twelve years old—
A child at marriage: I was let alone
For weeks, I told you, lived my child-life still
Even at Arezzo, when I woke and found
First … but I need not think of that again—
Over and ended! Try and take the sense
Of what I signify, if it must be so. (740)
After the first, my husband, for hate’s sake,
Said one eve, when the simpler cruelty
Seemed somewhat dull at edge and fit to bear,
“We have been man and wife six months almost:
“How long is this your comedy to last?
“Go this night to my chamber, not your own!”
At which word, I did rush—most true the charge—
And gain the Archbishop’s house—he stands for God—
And fall upon my knees and clasp his feet,
Praying him hinder what my estranged soul (750)
Refused to bear, though patient of the rest:
“Place me within a convent,” I implored—
“Let me henceforward lead the virgin life
“You praise in Her you bid me imitate!”
What did he answer? “Folly of ignorance!
“Know, daughter, circumstances make or mar
“Virginity,—’tis virtue or ’tis vice.
“That which was glory in the Mother of God
“Had been, for instance, damnable in Eve
“Created to be mother of mankind. (760)
“Had Eve, in answer to her Maker’s speech
“‘Be fruitful, multiply, replenish earth’—
“Pouted ‘But I choose rather to remain
“‘Single ’—why, she had spared herself forthwith
“Further probation by the apple and snake,
“Been pushed straight out of Paradise! For see—
“If motherhood be qualified impure,
“I catch you making God command Eve sin!
“—A blasphemy so like these Molinists’,
“I must suspect you dip into their books.” (770)
Then he pursued “’Twas in your covenant!”
He never did by speech nor act imply
“Because of our souls’ yearning that we meet
“And mix in soul through flesh, which yours and mine
“Wear and impress, and make their visible selves,
“—All which means, for the love of you and me,
“Let us become one flesh, being one soul!”
He only stipulated for the wealth;
Honest so far. But when he spoke as plain— (780)
Dreadfully honest also—“Since our souls
“Stand each from each, a whole world’s width between,
“Give me the fleshy vesture I can reach
“And rend and leave just fit for hell to burn!”—
Why, in God’s name, for Guido’s soul’s own sake
Imperilled by polluting mine,—I say,
I did resist; would I had overcome!
—It seemed so stale and worn a way o’ the world,
As though ’twere nature frowning—“Here is Spring, (790)
“The sun shines as he shone at Adam’s fall,
“The earth requires that warmth reach everywhere:
“What, must your patch of snow be saved forsooth
“Because you rather fancy snow than flowers?”
Something in this style he began with me.
Last he said, savagely for a good man,
“This explains why you call your husband harsh,
“Harsh to you, harsh to whom you love. God’s Bread!
“The poor Count has to manage a mere child
“Whose parents leave untaught the simplest things (800)
“Their duty was and privilege to teach,—
“Goodwives’ instruction, gossips’ lore: they laugh
“And leave the Count the task,—or leave it me!”
Then I resolved to tell a frightful thing.
“I am not ignorant,—know what I say,
“Declaring this is sought for hate, not love.
“Sir, you may hear things like almighty God.
“I tell you that my housemate, yes—the priest
“My husband’s brother, Canon Girolamo—
“Has taught me what depraved and misnamed love (810)
“Means, and what outward signs denote the sin,
“For he solicits me and says he loves,
“The idle young priest with nought else to do.
“My husband sees this, knows this, and lets be.
“Is it your counsel I bear this beside?”
“—More scandal, and against a priest this time!
“What, ’tis the Canon now?”—less snappishly—
“Rise up, my child, for such a child you are,
“The rod were too advanced a punishment!
“Let’s try the honeyed cake. A parable! (820)
“‘Without a parable spake He
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