The words she spoke were glazed with honey dew

To hide the acrid taste upon her tongue,

Still more, the force strained smile to half undo

Prior words that dubbed him, naught but devil’s dung.

Two hearts once joined in compact, heaven-blessed

Now dueled face to face with pistols aimed—

Yet blast contained, hair triggers hate-caressed,

Red hot in zeal to see the other maimed.

Perhaps dubiety did stay the ire

Of seething will beneath forged iron masks,

Restrained combatants, each did hold their fire

And stayed the carnage full redress would ask;

The meeting brief upon that crowded street—

But long the plan the next they ever meet.