ASTRAEA: Oh! no, no. It means dissection. I never heard of reading character That did not mean dissection. Spare me that. I am wilful, violent, capricious, weak, Wound in a web of my own spinning-wheel, A star-gazer, a riband in the wind . . . ARDEN: A banner in the wind! and me you lead, And shall! At least, I follow till I win. ASTRAEA: Forbear, I do beseech you. ARDEN: I have had Your hand in mine. ASTRAEA: Once. ARDEN: Once! Once! 'twas; once, was the heart alive, Leaping to break the ice. Oh! once, was aye That laughed at frosty May like spring's return. Say you are terrorized: you dare not melt. You like me; you might love me; but to dare, Tasks more than courage. Veneration, friends, Self-worship, which is often self-distrust, Bar the good way to you, and make a dream A fortress and a prison. ASTRAEA: Changed! you have changed Indeed. When you so boldly seized my hand It seemed a boyish freak, done boyishly. I wondered at Professor Spiral's choice Of you for an example, and our hope. Now you grow dangerous. You must have thought, And some things true you speak-save 'terrorized.' It may be flattering to sweet self-love To deem me terrorized.--'Tis my own soul, My heart, my mind, all that I hold most sacred, Not fear of others, bids me walk aloof. Who terrorizes me? Who could? Friends? Never! The world? as little. Terrorized! ARDEN: Forgive me. ASTRAEA: I might reply, Respect me. If I loved, If I could be so faithless as to love, Think you I would not rather noise abroad My shame for penitence than let friends dwell Deluded by an image of one vowed To superhuman, who the common mock Of things too human has at heart become. ARDEN: You would declare your love? ASTRAEA: I said, my shame. The woman that's the widow is ensnared, Caught in the toils! away with widows!--Oh! I hear men shouting it. ARDEN: But shame there's none For me in loving: therefore I may take Your friends to witness? tell them that my pride Is in the love of you?