CABIN BOY
He is my Captain, and I love him more
Than man should love another man: so says
The world, and yet to me it feels so right,
That I cannot believe my love a sin.
I feed my love with looks and sighs, and long
To speak but ever darkling waves of fear
O'erteem my heart and stop my tongue. At night
I dream of kisses, and of things as make
Me blush that I dare dream them. Dreams of flesh
And secret silent heat, and rising blood.
And things I cannot name but yearn to find.
As witch-tied knots, unloosed, call forth the storm
So, were my virgin knot untied, methinks
A tempest of my love would rage and blow
And drown the feeble protests of the world.
And so I beg of you some spell or charm,
To aid me in my quest to speak my love.
No love-spell (for I would not have him charm'd.
His love compell'd would be a hollow prize)
But by some means the strength to speak my heart
And by some means the space in which to do't.
WITCH
Thou speakst right gentle and thou bringst me gold.
Therefore I'll give thee what thou dost request.
Take now this rope, and when thou wish'st to speak
Untie the knot. Then spirits will be freed
Who'll aid thee in thy quest to seek his love.
CABIN BOY I fear these spirits may be straight from hell.
WITCH I will not stay thy questions, boy. Farewell!
The WITCH vanishes.