Analogies

Of Rosamond the beautiful, of her
The joy and pride of Cunimund,--last king
Of the fierce Gepidæ,--a warrior
Such as the old-world minstrels loved to sing,
To Alboin, Prince of Lombardy,--at war
With Cunimund her father,--fame did bring
Report of such proud loveliness and grace
That he had loved her ere he saw her face.

War was between them and the hate of thrones:
For he had slain a son of Turismund
And brother of King Cunimund. His bones
Were as a wall between desire--unsunned
Of such encouragement as young Love owns;
Young Love, before the ruined lips that stunned
Appeal with dead defiance, and the grim
Confrontment mocking as the hopes of him.--

Such oft is Life! that, standing with despair,
Looks on some crime,--as looked the conqueror
Of Rosamond,--ere goaded on to dare
Fate through the stern arbitrament of war:
Death smiles within the danger of her hair;
Defeat, more deadly than the wild Avar,
Looks, armored, from her eyes; and in her mouth
An exarch marshals legions from the south.

Yet, should he so prevail against her might--
Her woman Pride, her hosts of beautiful
Angers and scorns--that she be forced, some night,
To pledge him faith in Hate’s full cup, a skull--
What though he sees Revenge writ, fiery white,
Upon her brow! revenge, that hides a dull
Poison for sleep, or dagger all prepared!--
Life writes not Failure where Fate writes He dared.