These are the facts:--I was to blame:
   I brought her here and wrought her shame:
   She came with me all trustingly.
   Lovely and innocent her face:
   And in her perfect form, the grace
   Of purity and modesty.
   I think I loved her then: 'would dote
   On her ambrosial breast and throat,
   Young as a blossom's tenderness:
   Her eyes, that were both glad and sad:
   Her cheeks and chin, that dimples had:
   Her mouth, red-ripe to kiss and kiss.
   Three months passed by; three moons of fire;
   When in me sickened all desire:
   And in its place a devil,--who
   Filled all my soul with deep disgust,
   And on the victim of my lust
   Turned eyes of loathing,--swiftly grew.
   One night, when by my side she slept,
   I rose: and leaning, while I kept
   The dagger hid, I kissed her hair
   And throat: and, when she smiled asleep,
   Into her heart I drove it deep:
   And left her dead, still smiling there.


 



