She charged me with having said this and that br To another woman long years before, br In the very parlour where we sat, - br br br Sat on a night when the endless pour br Of rain on the roof and the road below br Bent the spring of the spirit more and more…. br br br - So charged she me; and the Cupids bow br Of her mouth was hard, and her eyes, and her face, br And her white forefinger lifted slow. br br br Had she done it gently, or shown a trace br That not too curiously would she view br A folly passed ere her reign had place, br br br A kiss might have ended it. But I knew br From the fall of each word, and the pause between, br That the curtain would drop upon us two br Ere long, in our play of slave and queen.