I am a woman of another age stranded on the shores of a time made only for men.

I am the woman priests talk against, or perhaps rather the witch-woman Lilith on the outside of Eden's wall.

Or I may be the woman of a time yet to come, when she who is man's mate shall not be only a gay-decked bird to sit on his wrist, tethered with a leash and called back to her master with a silver lure." These things I had never listened to before, nor, indeed, thought of.
Nevertheless, though I could not answer her, I felt in my heart that she was wrong, and that a woman has always power over men, being stronger than all ideals, philosophies, kingdoms--aye, even our holy religion itself.
"After all," I said, piqued a little at her tone, as men are wont to be at that which they do not understand, "my Lady Ysolinde, wherefore should you not tell these things to the Prince, your husband, and not to me, that am neither your husband nor your lover ?" "And if you had been both ?" she interjected, a little breathlessly.
"Then, my lady," I replied, stirred by her persistence, "you would have obeyed me and served me just as you say.

Or else I should have broken your spirit as a man is broken on the wheel." It was a prideful saying, and one informed with all ignorance and conceit.

Yet the Lady Ysolinde gave a long sigh.
"Ah, that would have been sweet, too," she said.