have struck
His insolence back into him--am I
So surely yours?--therefore forever yours? 95

_Ottima._ Love, to be wise (one counsel pays another),
Should we have--months ago, when first we loved,
For instance that May morning we two stole
Under the green ascent of sycamores--If
we had come upon a thing like that 100
Suddenly--

_Sebald._ "A thing"--there again--"a thing!"

_Ottima._ Then, Venus' body, had we come upon
My husband Luca Gaddi's murdered corpse
Within there, at his couch-foot, covered close--
Would you have pored upon it? Why persist 105
In poring now upon it? For 'tis here
As much as there in the deserted house;
You cannot rid your eyes of it. For me,
Now he is dead I hate him worse; I hate--
Dare you stay here? I would go back and hold 110
His two dead hands, and say, "I hate you worse,
Luca, than"--

_Sebald._ Off, off--take your hands off mine,
'Tis the hot evening--off! oh, morning, is it?

_Ottima._ There's one thing must be done--you know what thing.
Come in and help to carry. We may sleep 115
Anywhere in the whole wide house tonight.

_Sebald._ What would come, think you, if we let him lie
Just as he is? Let him lie there until
The angels take him! He is turned by this
Off from his face beside, as you will see. 120

_Ottima._ This dusty pane might serve for looking-glass.
Three, four--four gray hairs! Is it so you said
A plait of hair should wave across my neck?
No--this way.

_Sebald._ Ottima, I would give your neck,
Each splendid shoulder, both those breasts of yours, 125
That this were undone! Killing! Kill the world,
So Luca lives again!--aye, lives to sputter
His fulsome dotage on you--yes, and feign
Surprise that I return at eve to sup,
When all the morning I was loitering here-- 130
Bid me dispatch my business and begone.
I would--

_Ottima._ See!

_Sebald._ No, I'll finish. Do you think
I fear to speak the bare truth once for all?
All we have talked of, is at bottom, fine
To suffer; there's a recompense in guilt; 135
One must be venturous and fortunate--
What is one young for, else? In age we'll sigh
O'e