CUERVO - Biblioteca Nacional de Colombia

480 MEN AND WOMEN
The vase shaped to the curl of the god's lip,
While rounded fair for lower men to see
The Graces in a dance they recognise
With turbulent applause and laughs of heart I
So triumph ever shall renew itself ;
Ever to end in efforts higher yet,
Ever begun--
Consiance. I ever helping '?
Norbert. Thus 1
[As he embraces her, enter the QUEEN.
Constance. Rist, madam-so I have performed my part.
You see your gratitude's true decency,
Norbert'l a little slow in seeing it I
Begun to end the sooner. What's a kiss 'I
Norbert. Constance 1
Constance. Why, must I teach it you again ?
You want a witness to your dullness, sir "?
What was I saying these ten minutes long '/
Then I repeat-when some young handsome man
Like you has acted out a part like yours,
Is pleased to fall in love with one beyond,
So very far beyond him, as he says-
So hopelessly in love, that but to speak
Would prove him mad, he thinks judiciously,
And makes some insignificant good soul
Like me, his friend, adviser, confidant
And very stalking-horse to cover him
In following after what he dares not face-
When his end's gained-(sir, do you understand '/)
When she, he dares not face, has loved him first,
-May I not say so, madam ?-tops his hope,
And overpasses so his wildest dream,
With glad consenl of all, and most of her
The confidant who brought the same about­
Why, in the moment when such joy explodes,
I do say that the merest gentleman
Will not start rudely from the stalking-horse,
Dismiss it with a " There, enough of you 1 "
Forget it, show his back unmannerly;
But like a liberal heart will rather turn
And say, " A tingling time of hope was ours­
Betwixt the fears and falterings-we two lived
A chanceful time in waiting for the prize.
The confidant, the Constance, served not ill ;
And though shall forget her in due time,
Her use being answered now, as reason bids,
Nay as hersel1 bids from her heart of hearts,
Still, she has rights, the first thanks go to her,
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