Page:Songs from Vagabondia (1897).djvu/57
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“For I have been wife for the stomach’s sake,
And I know whereof I say;
A harlot is sold for a passing slake,
But a wife is sold for aye.
And I know whereof I say;
A harlot is sold for a passing slake,
But a wife is sold for aye.
“Body and soul for a lifetime sell,
And the price of the sale shall be
That you shall be harlot and slave as well
Until Death set you free.”
And the price of the sale shall be
That you shall be harlot and slave as well
Until Death set you free.”
LAURANA’S SONG. for “a lady of Venice.”
Who’ll have the crumpled pieces of a heart?
Let him take mine!
Who’ll give his whole of passion for a part,
And call’t divine?
Who’ll have the soiled remainder of desire?
Who’ll warm his fingers at a burnt-out fire?
Who’ll drink the lees of love, and cast i’ the mire
The nobler wine?
Let him take mine!
Who’ll give his whole of passion for a part,
And call’t divine?
Who’ll have the soiled remainder of desire?
Who’ll warm his fingers at a burnt-out fire?
Who’ll drink the lees of love, and cast i’ the mire
The nobler wine?
Let him come here, and kiss me on the mouth,
And have his will!
Love dead and dry as summer in the South
When winds are still
And all the leafage shrivels in the heat!
Let him come here and linger at my feet
Till he grow weary with the over-sweet,
And die, or kill.
And have his will!
Love dead and dry as summer in the South
When winds are still
And all the leafage shrivels in the heat!
Let him come here and linger at my feet
Till he grow weary with the over-sweet,
And die, or kill.
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