Poldark: The Four Swans

‘Near the bank were four swans, almost stationary, moving so slowly that they appeared, only to be drifting with the tide. Each one mirrored, duplicated in the still water. It seemed sometimes that they could see their own reflections and were admiring themselves. Then one or another would break her reflection by dipping a delicate beak.
Graceful things.
White things.
Like women.
Unpredictable. Gentle. Fierce. Faithful or unfaithful. Loyal or traitorous. God, who knew?’