‘ Oh life is wonderful,’ she said,
‘ And all my world is bright;
Can Paradise show fairer skies,
Or more effulgent light?’
( Speak lower, lower, mortal heart,
The jealous gods may hear. )
She turned for answer; but his gaze
Cut past her like a lance,
And shone like flame on one who came
With radiant glance for glance.
( You spoke too loud, O mortal heart,
The jealous gods were near. )
They walked through green and sunlit ways;
And yet the earth seemed black,
For there were three, where two should be;
So runs the world, alack.
( The listening gods, the jealous gods,
They want no Edens here. )