Chapter 38

 First time he kissed me, he but only kissed

The fingers of this hand wherewith I write;

And ever since, it grew more clean and white.

Slow to world-greetings, quick with its “O, list,”

When the angels speak.  A ring of amethyst¹

I could not wear here, plainer to my sight,

Than that first kiss.  The second passed in height

The first, and sought the forehead, and half missed,

Half falling on the hair.  O beyond meed!

That was the chrism of love, which love’s own crown²,

With sanctifying sweetness, did precede³

The third upon my lips was folded down

In perfect, purple state; since when, indeed,

I have been proud and said, “My love, my own.”

1 amethyst   

n.紫水晶

参考例句：

• She pinned a large amethyst brooch to her lapel.她在翻领上别了一枚大大的紫水晶饰针。
• The exquisite flowers come alive in shades of amethyst.那些漂亮的花儿在紫水晶的映衬下显得格外夺目。

2 crown   

n.王冠，王权，顶点；v.使...成王，加冕，居...之顶

参考例句：

• He won the crown in 1973.他荣获1973年冠军称号。
• They wanted to crown Caesar king.他们想立凯撒为王。

3 precede   

v.在...之前，优于，较...优先

参考例句：

• Agricultural development simply must precede economic development.农业的发展必须在整个经济发展中处于领先地位。
• Attributive adjectives precede the noun.定语形容词位于名词前。