But, no, I cannot write it. There are things Too bitter in their taste, and this one stings My soul to a mad anger even yet. I seem to hear the voices of the pit Lewdly discoursing of incestuous scenes, Bottom the weaver's and the enamoured queen's. Alas, Titania! thou poor soul, alas! How art thou fallen, and to what an ass! CHAPTER V. Griselda's madness lasted forty days, Forty eternities! Men went their ways, And suns arose and set, and women smiled, And tongues wagged lightly in impeachment wild Of Lady L.'s adventure. She was gone, None knew by whom escorted or alone, Or why or whither, only that one morning, Without pretext or subterfuge or warning, She had disappeared in silence from L. House, Leaving her lord in multitudinous And agonised conjecture of her fate: So the tale went. And truly less sedate Than his wont was in intricate affairs, Such as his Garter or his lack of heirs, Lord L. was seen in this new tribulation. Griselda long had been his life's equation, The pivot of his dealings with the world, The mainstay of his comfort, all now hurled To unforeseen confusion by her flight: There was need of action swift and definite. Where was she? Who could tell him? Divers visions Passed through his fancy--thieves, and street collisions, And all the hundred accidents of towns, From broken axle trees to broken crowns. In vain he questioned; no response was made More than the fact that, as already said, My lady, unattended and on foot, (A sad imprudence here Lord L. took note), Had gone out dressed in a black morning gown And dark tweed waterproof, 'twixt twelve and one, Leaving no orders to her maid, or plan About her carriage to or groom or man. Such was in sum the downstairs' evidence. The hall porter, a man of ponderous sense, Averred her ladyship had eastward turned From the front door, and some small credit earned For the suggestion that her steps were bent To Whitechapel on merciful intent, A visit of compassion to the poor, A clue which led to a commissioner Being sent for in hot haste from Scotland Yard. And so the news was bruited abroad.