Within her room my heart's
enchantment lies
White against red
and gold embroidered damask on her bed.
Whither my too presumptuous eyes,
piercing the distance and the gloom
to breach the unmanned walls,
invade the precious fastness of her room.
Fair conquest, when the victor falls
an instant, longing prisoner.
And soshe lies and so I gaze on her.
And now the darling phantom of a smile.
half seen, eluding, inescapable,
compels me inward, while
She moves, silent and pitiful,
all tenderness, into a mystic land,
leading me childwise by the hand.