And you know why--you know it, for you tremble. Can you deny the word? Your colour alters, The heart that knocks your breast is plain to hear. GYGES. Your lord--has he not, too, before you trembled? Has not his colour, even as mine, been altered? Has not his heart been stirred like mine and knocked? Recall the moment of the great permission, The first time that he dared behold your face, Then ask--did he not all resemble me? RHOD. You? GYGES. Queen, I mean my words. His brain was dimmed, He stood there in a dazzle, and as sense Returned upon him, utterance went dumb, And tearing crown from head as ’twere a wreath Turned to a sudden wither in his hair, He tossed it o’er his shoulder in disdain. RHOD. He! Ah! GYGES. You looked on him with kindly smile At this; then came on him such boldened heart He would have come anear by half a pace, But lo, his knees were loosened under him, They felt their homage owed a nobler service, And ere you guessed he lay before you--thus! [_Kneels down._ RHOD. You dare? GYGES. And what? Why thus it was. Scarce knowing Your act’s import, half with repelling motion, And half perchance with the uplifter’s gesture, You stretched the hand which, tentatively, shyly, He grasped; which then, e’en then, to tip of finger Was short--withdrawn or ere he came to touch. Did you not thus? Oh speak! RHOD. Rise, rise, I say! GYGES (_rising_). But him it smote like the heaven’s thundery burst; He felt that he had been until that hour A shade of Erebus, cold, thinly-passioned, A mere estray among the Things of Life Quicked now with its first blood even as themselves. He felt that all their laughing, all their weeping, Their joying and their sighing--yea, their breathing He had but aped nor ever dreamt wherefore The breast of man forever swells and sinks. Then burned he with desire for equal life And sucked your darling image in with eyes That else glassed all with level apathy In changing drift, like a still sheet of water, And scarcely now forgave the lids their quiver. Thus as he lay before you drinking beauty He took the gradual glow of softened fire, Even as your own white hand what time at evening You hold it to a flame--ah, but you leapt Aback before your reddening countershine! RHOD. No further! GYGES.