The Complete Works. William Butler Yeats

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СКАЧАТЬ you have never loved me.

      SEANCHAN.

       [Seizing her by wrist.]

      You, a child,

      Who have but seen a man out of the window,

      Tell me that I know nothing about love,

      And that I do not love you! Did I not say

      There was a frenzy in the light of the stars

      All through the livelong night, and that the night

      Was full of marriages? But that fight’s over,

      And all that’s done with, and I have to die.

      FEDELM.

       [Throwing her arms about him.]

      I will not be put from you, although I think

      I had not grudged it you if some great lady,

      If the King’s daughter, had set out your bed.

      I will not give you up to death; no, no!

      And are not these white arms and this soft neck

      Better than the brown earth?

      SEANCHAN.

       [Struggling to disengage himself.]

      Begone from me!

      There’s treachery in those arms and in that voice.

      They’re all against me. Why do you linger there?

      How long must I endure the sight of you?

      FEDELM.

      O, Seanchan! Seanchan!

      SEANCHAN.

       [Rising.]

      Go where you will,

      So it be out of sight and out of mind.

      I cast you from me like an old torn cap,

      A broken shoe, a glove without a finger,

      A crooked penny; whatever is most worthless.

      FEDELM.

       [Bursts into tears.]

      O, do not drive me from you!

      SEANCHAN.

       [Takes her in his arms.]

      What did I say,

      My dove of the woods? I was about to curse you.

      It was a frenzy. I’ll unsay it all.

      But you must go away.

      FEDELM.

      Let me be near you.

      I will obey like any married wife.

      Let me but lie before your feet.

      SEANCHAN.

      Come nearer.

      [Kisses her.

      If I had eaten when you bid me, sweetheart,

      The kiss of multitudes in times to come

      Had been the poorer.

      [Enter KING from palace, followed by the two PRINCESSES.

      KING.

       [To FEDELM.]

      Has he eaten yet?

      FEDELM.

      No, King, and will not till you have restored

      The right of the poets.

      KING.

       [Coming down and standing before SEANCHAN.]

      Seanchan, you have refused

      Everybody that I have sent, and now

      I come to you myself; and I have come

      To bid you put your pride as far away

      As I have put my pride. I had your love

      Not a great while ago, and now you have planned

      To put a voice by every cottage fire,

      And in the night when no one sees who cries,

      To cry against me till my throne has crumbled.

      And yet if I give way I must offend

      My courtiers and nobles till they, too,

      Strike at the crown. What would you have of me?

      SEANCHAN.

      When did the poets promise safety, King?

      KING.

      Seanchan, I bring you bread in my own hands,

      And bid you eat because of all these reasons,

      And for this further reason, that I love you.

      [Seanchan pushes bread away, with FEDELM’S hand.

      You have refused it, Seanchan?

      SEANCHAN.

      We have refused it.

      KING.

      I have been patient, though I am a king,

      And have the means to force you. But that’s ended,

      And I am but a king, and you a subject.

      Nobles and courtiers, bring the poets hither;

      [Enter COURT LADIES, MONK, SOLDIER, CHAMBERLAIN, and COURTIERS with PUPILS, who have halters round their necks.

      For you can have your way. I that was man,

      With a man’s heart, am now all king again,

      Remembering that the seed I come of, though

      A hundred kings have sown it and resown it,

      Has neither trembled nor shrunk backward yet

      Because of the hard business of СКАЧАТЬ