"It is unsaid, Sanpeur; but woe is me
That I should fall so far from my estate
To plead in vain with any man, howe'er
He love; where is my pride, my boasted pride?"
"'Tis in my heart, if anywhere, my love."
"I can not go, Sanpeur. Torm forfeited
His right to loyalty by cruelty."
"The debt of loyalty is due to self,
And we must well fulfil it, Gwendolaine,
No matter how another may have failed."
A sudden horror crossed her thought,—"Sanpeur;
You do not love me less that I have come?"
"Ah! my beloved woman-child, I know
Your many-sided nature far too well
To judge you or condemn you by one act,
Born of a frenzied moment of despair;
When the true Gwendolaine has time to think,
Naught I could urge would keep her, though she came."
"But Torm would kill me if I did return"—
"Leave that to me; but if he should, my love,
Your soul would then be free,—what ask you more?
Now you are weary, very weary, sweet;
Go in the castle, let me call my dames
To tend and serve you until morning light;
And on the morrow you will choose to go
With me, I am full sure, and make your peace
With Torm, as worthy of your better self."
"With you? O God! Sanpeur, if I return,
I go alone as I have come! Think you
That I would take you with me to your death?"
"My life is yours,—how use it better, dear,
Than winning peace and happiness for you?"