Mithridates and Hypocratia

Mithridates killed his Mother
so poisonous a Queen.
She killed the King his Father
and love and trust turned mean
"Oh come my boy
my sweet sweet boy"
she cooed with perfumed breath.
But quietly amongst her friends
she joked of painful death.

Then the small boy swore
to no weakness ever show
a daily dose of poisons
through all his veins did flow.

Oh noble Mithridates so clever and so wise
I loved you not for glory but
for the kindness in your eyes

In the last campaign
I kept hard at his side
In the strength of girlish youth
I didn't only ride
I tended him exhausted
I tended yet his horse
I shouldered many burdens
I was a great resource

At the last there were but three of us
tight about my lord
he gave us all his richest clothes
and tenderness he poured
"Hypocratia wayward girl
obey me please in this
leave me now to die alone
just give me one last kiss"

I begged him then"fly still fly still
put death off one more day"
but he took his hands from me
and sent me far away

So I had lured him sometimes
to gentleness and life
to love and touch and laughter
with his little warrior wife

But in the end the poison
was Mother to him still
holding him away from me
it only made him ill

There was neither easeful death
nor comfort in my arms
Just mercenaries' killing blow
thus ended all his charms

Oh noble Mithridates, so clever and so wise
I loved you not for glory but
for the kindness in your eyes