Which gives a foolish kick or start to feel it,--
_4th Woman_.
Then the trapt notion may be easily burnt.
_Vashti_.
Yea?--I think mine would not burn easily.
With fire, with such indignant fire as pride
Yields, when it must destroy itself to feel
The power of the world touch it with humbling flame,--
With such a fire, whose heat you know not of,
Have I assayed this--notion, didst thou say?
And it stood upright, with its shape unquencht,
And lived within the fire.
_3rd Woman_.
Thou hast it wrong.
_4th Woman_.
Thou hast not understood the cure we meant.
_2nd Woman_.
Stop brabbling, fools; I would hear the Queen's mind.
_1st Woman_.
I too; I hate a thing I cannot skill;
And thee and all that lives in thee, O Queen,
I would keep friendly to my spirit; yet
I do suspect something amazing in thee.
_Vashti_.
And if thou seest not how slippery
Is women's place in the world of men, 'tis like
Thou wilt amazedly the vision take,
When I have led thee up my tower of thought.
_2nd Woman_.
How are we dangerous? Are we not women,
Man's endless need?
_Vashti_.
Ay, and therein the danger!
Is it not possible he hate the need?
For not as he were a beast it urges him:
He is aware of it, he knows its force,--
The kind of beasts is in their blood alone,
But man is blood and spirit.
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