No More Learning

_ Why do you turn away and hide your face,
That I would look upon for ever?

_Forgael. _ My grief.

_Dectora. _ Have I not loved you for a thousand years?

_Forgael. _ I never have been golden-armed Iollan.

_Dectora. _ I do not understand. I know your face
Better than my own hands.

_Forgael. _ I have deceived you
Out of all reckoning.

_Dectora. _ Is it not true
That you were born a thousand years ago,
In islands where the children of Aengus wind
In happy dances under a windy moon,
And that you'll bring me there?

_Forgael.
_ I have deceived you;
I have deceived you utterly.

_Dectora. _ How can that be?
Is it that though your eyes are full of love
Some other woman has a claim on you,
And I've but half?

_Forgael. _ Oh, no!

_Dectora. _ And if there is,
If there be half a hundred more, what matter?
I'll never give another thought to it;
No, no, nor half a thought; but do not speak.
Women are hard and proud and stubborn-hearted,
Their heads being turned with praise and flattery;
And that is why their lovers are afraid
To tell them a plain story.

_Forgael. _ That's not the story;
But I have done so great a wrong against you,
There is no measure that it would not burst.
I will confess it all.

_Dectora. _ What do I care,
Now that my body has begun to dream,
And you have grown to be a burning coal
In the imagination and intellect?
If something that's most fabulous were true--
If you had taken me by magic spells,
And killed a lover or husband at my feet--
I would not let you speak, for I would know
That it was yesterday and not to-day
I loved him; I would cover up my ears,
As I am doing now.