The Glove

From Foreign Literatures

A poem depicting sacrifice for the sake of love, and courage in its loftiest manifestations... and showing that fidelity to one's dignity is better than fidelity to love.

The king sat in the garden of wild beasts, watching the combat of the lions.
Around him were gathered the great men of the kingdom.
And on a high, elegant balcony sat the ladies. The great iron gate was opened... and a lion entered the arena, shaking his mane; then he crouched down on the ground and stretched out his paws.
Another gate was opened, and out of it came a fierce tiger, which took a tremendous leap... and the moment it saw the lion it let out a roar whose echo resounded.
It thrust out its tongue and began circling angrily, keeping clear of the lion; then it crouched down, as though grumbling at this surprise.
And from another gate came two leopards, which attacked the tiger savagely, and it seized them in its dangerous claws...
Then the lion stirred and gave a terrifying roar, and the beasts were awed and fell still.

In that dreadful hour a glove fell from the hand of a beautiful lady,
and it lands between the lion and the tiger.
The beauty turned to her beloved, Delorges the young knight, and said mockingly:
"If your love for me is true, as you have sworn to me time and again, then prove your love now and pick up this glove for me."
The knight starts up, and walks with bold steps toward the savage beasts.
The eyes of the people are upon him,
and he picks up the glove.

Amid the astonishment, admiration, and applause of the crowd, the lover runs back to the beauty, who receives him with a smile full of contentment and satisfaction.
But he flings the glove in her face with disdain, and says: I do not want your thanks, Lady.