I found that ivory image there

    Dancing with her chosen youth，

    But when he wound her coal-black hair

    As though to strangle her， no scream

    Or bodily movement did I dare，

    Eyes under eyelids did so gleam；

    Love is like the lion‘s tooth.

    When she， and though some said she played

    I said that she had danced heart‘s truth，

    Drew a knife to strike him dead，

    I could but leave him to his fate；

    For no matter what is said

    They had all that had their hate；

    Love is like the lion‘s tooth.

    Did he die or did she die？

    Seemed to die or died they both？

    God be with the times when I

    Cared not a thraneen for what chanced

    So that I had the limbs to try

    Such a dance as there was danced—

    Love is like the lion‘s tooth.