GILES

The Emperor’s chamberlains, behold
Their silver shoes and staves of gold. 
Look, look! how like some heaven come down
The maidens go with girded gown!

JOAN

Yea, yea, and this last row of them
Draw up their kirtles by the hem,
And scatter roses e’en like those
About my father’s garden-close.

GILES

Ah! have I hurt you?  See the girls
Whose slim hands scatter very pearls.

JOAN

Hold me fast, Giles! here comes one
Whose raiment flashes down the sun.

GILES

O sweet mouth!  O fair lids cast down! 
O white brow!  O the crown, the crown!

JOAN

How near! if nigher I might stand
By one ell, I could touch his hand.

GILES

Look, Joan! if on this side she were
Almost my hand might touch her hair.

JOAN

Ah me! what is she thinking on?

GILES

Is he content now all is won?

JOAN

And does she think as I thought, when
Betwixt the dancing maids and men,
Twixt the porch rose-boughs blossomed red
I saw the roses on my bed?

GILES

Hath he such fear within his heart
As I had, when the wind did part
The jasmine-leaves, and there within
The new-lit taper glimmered thin?

THE MUSIC

(As the EMPEROR and EMPRESS enter.)

LOVE IS ENOUGH; though the World be a-waning
And the woods have no voice but the voice of complaining,
  Though the sky be too dark for dim eyes to discover
The gold-cups and daisies fair blooming thereunder;
Though the hills be held shadows, and the sea a dark wonder,
  And this day draw a veil over all deeds passed over,
Yet their hands shall not tremble, their feet shall not falter,
The void shall not weary, the fear shall not alter
  These lips and these eyes of the loved and the lover.

THE EMPEROR

The spears flashed by me, and the swords swept round,
And in war’s hopeless tangle was I bound,
But straw and stubble were the cold points found,
For still thy hands led down the weary way.

THE EMPRESS

Through hall and street they led me as a queen,
They looked to see me proud and cold of mien,
I heeded not though all my tears were seen,
For still I dreamed of thee throughout the day.