XVII

     Or else enamoured of a sweet
     Withdrawn, a vengeful crone! 
     And say, what figure at her feet
     Is this that utters moan?

     XVIII

     The Countess Louis from her head
     Drew veil:  ’Great Lady, hear! 
     My husband deems you Justice dread,
     I know you Mercy dear.

     XIX

     ’His error upon him may fall;
     He will not breathe a nay. 
     I am his helpless mate in all,
     Except for grace to pray.

     XX

     ’Perchance on me his choice inclined,
     To give his House an heir: 
     I had not marriage with his mind,
     His counsel could not share.

     XXI

     ’I brought no portion for his weal
     But this one instinct true,
     Which bids me in my weakness kneel,
     Archduchess Anne, to you.’

     XXII

     The frowning Lady uttered, ‘Forth!’
     Her look forbade delay: 
     ’It is not mine to weigh your worth;
     Your husband’s others weigh.

     XXIII

     ‘Hence with the woman in your speech,’
     For nothing it avails
     In woman’s fashion to beseech
     Where Justice holds the scales.’

     XXIV

     Then bent and went the lady wan,
     Whose girlishness made grey
     The thoughts that through Archduchess Anne
     Shattered like stormy spray.

     XXV

Long sat she there, as flame that strives To hold on beating wind:  — His wife must be the fool of wives, Or cunningly designed!

     XXVI

She sat until the tempest-pitch In her torn bosom fell; — His wife must be a subtle witch Or else God loves her well!

     3—­I

     Old Kraken read a missive penned
     By his great Lady’s hand. 
     Her condescension called him friend,
     To raise the crest she fanned.

     II

     Swiftly to where he lay encamped
     It flew, yet breathed aloof
     From woman’s feeling, and he stamped
     A heel more like a hoof.

     III

     She wrote of Mercy:  ’She was loth
     Too hard to goad a foe.’ 
     He stamped, as when men drive an oath
     Devils transcribe below.

     IV

     She wrote:  ‘We have him half by theft.’ 
     His wrinkles glistened keen: 
     And see the Winter storm-cloud cleft
     To lurid skies between!

     V

     When read old Kraken:  ‘Christ our Guide,’
     His eyes were spikes of spar: 
     And see the white snow-storm divide
     About an icy star!

     VI

     ‘She trusted him to understand,’
     She wrote, and further prayed
     That policy might rule the land. 
     Old Kraken’s laughter neighed.