"Sir," quoth the woman, "I will do this thing, So thou keep faith with me, and yet return. But will the Voice, think you, forbear to chide, Nor that Unseen, who calleth, buffet thee, And drive thee on?" He saith, "It will keep faith. Fear not. I have prevailed, for I besought, And lovingly it answered. I shall rest, And dwell with thee till after my three sons Come from the chase." She said, "I let them forth In fear, for they are young. Their slaves are few. The giant elephants be cunning folk; They lie in ambush, and will draw men on To follow,--then will turn and tread them down." "Thy father's house unwisely planned," said he, "To drive them down upon the growing corn Of them that were their foes; for now, behold, They suffer while the unwieldy beasts delay Retirement to their lands, and, meanwhile, pound The damp, deep meadows, to a pulpy mash; Or wallowing in the waters foul them; nay, Tread down the banks, and let them forth to flood Their cities; or, assailed and falling, shake The walls, and taint the wind, ere thirty men, Over the hairy terror piling stones Or earth, prevail to cover it." She said, "Husband, I have been sorry, thinking oft I would my sons were home; but now so well Methinks it is with me, that I am fain To wish they might delay, for thou wilt dwell With me till after they return, and thou Hast set thine eyes upon them. Then,--ah, me! I must sit joyless in my place; bereft, As trees that suddenly have dropped their leaves, And dark as nights that have no moon." She spake: The hope o' the world did hearken, but reply Made none. He left his hand on her fair locks As she lay sobbing; and the quietness Of night began to comfort her, the fall Of far-off waters, and the wingéd wind That went among the trees. The patient hand, Moreover, that was steady, wrought with her, Until she said, "What wilt thou? Nay, I know. I therefore answer what thou utterest not. _Thou lovest me well, and not for thine own will Consentest to depart_. What more? Ay, this: _I do avow that He which calleth thee, Hath right to call; and I do swear, the Voice Shall have no let of me, to do Its will_." BOOK II