Douglas Goldring

WE were staying (that night) in a very old palace—

Very dark, very large, and sheer to the water below.

The rooms were silent and strange, and you were frightened, Alice:

The silver lamp gave a feeble, flickering glow.

And the bed had a high dark tester, and carved black posts,

And behind our heads was a glimmer of old brocade.

Do you remember?—you thought the shadows were full of ghosts,

And the sound of the lapping water made you afraid.

Ah! and your face shone pale, in the gleam of that quivering flame,

And your bosom was rich with the round pearls, row on row;

And you looked proud, and jeweled, and passionate without shame—

Like some princess who stooped to her lover, a long while ago.