V
\"Imaynotgo!\"sheatlengthupspake,\"Thoughtscallmeback
Iwouldstillloseallforyourdear,dearsake;
Myheartisthine,friend!ButmytrackIhometoAthelhallmusttakeTohinderhouseholdwrack!\"
VI
Heappealed。Buttheyparted,weakandwan:
Andhelefttheshore;
Hisshipdiminished,waslow,wasgone;
Andsheheardinthewavesasthedaytidewore,Andreadintheleerofthesunthatshone,Thattheypartedforevermore。
VII
Shehomedasshecame,atthedipofeveOnAthelCoombRegainingtheHallshehadsworntoleave
Thehousewassoundlessasatomb,Andsheenteredherchamber,theretogrieveLone,kneeling,inthegloom。
VIII
Fromthelawnwithoutroseherhusband\'svoiceToonehisfriend:
\"AnotherherLove,anothermychoice,Hergoingisgood。Ourconditionsmend;
Inachangeofmatesweshallbothrejoice;
Ihopedthatitthusmightend!
IX
\"Aquickdivorce;shewillmakehimhers,AndIwedmine。
SoTimerightsallthingsinlong,longyears
Orrathershe,byherbolddesign!
Iadmireawomannobalkdeters:
Shehasblessedmylife,infine。
X
\"Ishallbuildnewroomsformynewtruebride,Letthebygonebe:
Bynow,nodoubt,shehascrossedthetideWiththemantohermind。FarhappiersheInsomewarmvinelandbyhissideThanevershewaswithme。\"
THESEASONSOFHERYEAR
I
Winteriswhiteonturfandtree,Andbirdsarefled;
Butsummersongsterspipetome,Andpetalsspread,ForwhatIdreamtofsecretlyHislipshavesaid!
II
O\'tisafineMaymorn,theysay,Andbloomshaveblown;
Butwildandwintryismyday,Mybirdsmakemoan;
ForhewhovowedleavesmetopayAlone—alone!
THEMILKMAID
UnderadaisiedbankTherestandsarichredruminatingcow,AndhardagainstherflankAcotton—hoodedmilkmaidbendsherbrow。
Thefloweryriver—oozeUpheavesandfalls;themilkpurrsinthepail;
FewpilgrimsbutwouldchooseThepeaceofsuchalifeinsuchavale。
Themaidbreatheswords—tovent,Itseems,hersenseofNature\'sscenery,Ofwhoselife,sentiment,Andessence,verypartitselfisshe。
Shebendsaglanceofpain,And,atamoment,letsescapeatear;
Isitthatpassingtrain,Whosealienwhirroffendshercountryear?
Nay!PhyllisdoesnotdwellOnvisualandfamiliarthingslikethese;
WhatmovesheristhespellOfinnerthemesandinnerpoetries:
CouldbutbySundaymornHergaynewgowncome,meadsmightdrytodun,Trainsshriektillearsweretorn,IfFredwouldnotpreferthatOtherOne。
THELEVELLEDCHURCHYARD
\"Opassenger,praylistandcatchOursighsandpiteousgroans,HalfstifledinthisjumbledpatchOfwrenchedmemorialstones!
\"Welate—lamented,restinghere,Aremixedtohumanjam,Andeachtoeachexclaimsinfear,\'IknownotwhichIam!\'
\"ThewickedpeoplehaveannexedTheversesonthegood;
AroaringdrunkardsportsthetextTeetotalTommyshould!
\"Wherewearehuddlednonecantrace,Andifournamesremain,Theypavesomepathorp—ingplaceWherewehaveneverlain!
\"There\'snotamodestmaidenelfButdreadsthefinalTrumpet,Lesthalfofhershouldriseherself,Andhalfsomelocalstrumpet!
\"FromrestorationsofThyfane,FromsmoothingsofThysward,FromzealousChurchmen\'spickandplaneDeliverusOLord!Amen!\"
1882。
THERUINEDMAID
\"O\'Melia,mydear,thisdoeseverythingcrown!
WhocouldhavesupposedIshouldmeetyouinTown?
Andwhencesuchfairgarments,suchprosperi—ty?\"
\"Odidn\'tyouknowI\'dbeenruined?\"saidshe。
—\"Youleftusintatters,withoutshoesorsocks,Tiredofdiggingpotatoes,andspuddingupdocks;
Andnowyou\'vegaybraceletsandbrightfeathersthree!\"
\"Yes:that\'showwedresswhenwe\'reruined,\"saidshe。
—\"Athomeinthebartonyousaid\'thee\'and\'thou,\'
And\'thikoon,\'and\'theasoon,\'and\'t\'other\';butnowYourtalkingquitefits\'eeforhighcompa—ny!\"
\"Somepolishisgainedwithone\'sruin,\"saidshe。
—\"Yourhandswerelikepawsthen,yourfaceblueandbleak,ButnowI\'mbewitchedbyyourdelicatecheek,Andyourlittleglovesfitasonanyla—dy!\"
\"Weneverdoworkwhenwe\'reruined,\"saidshe。
—\"Youusedtocallhome—lifeahag—riddendream,Andyou\'dsigh,andyou\'dsock;butatpresentyouseemToknownotofmegrimsormelancho—ly!\"
\"True。There\'sanadvantageinruin,\"saidshe。
—\"IwishIhadfeathers,afinesweepinggown,Andadelicateface,andcouldstrutaboutTown!\"
\"Mydear—arawcountrygirl,suchasyoube,Isn\'tequaltothat。Youain\'truined,\"saidshe。
WESTBOURNEPARKVILLAS,1866,THERESPECTABLEBURGHERON\"THEHIGHERCRITICISM\"
SinceReverendDoctorsnowdeclareThatclerksandpeoplemustprepareTodoubtifAdameverwere;
Toholdthefloodalocalscare;
Toargue,thoughthestolidstare,ThateverythinghadhappenedereTheprophetstoitshappeningsware;
ThatDavidwasnogiant—slayer,NoronetocallaGod—obeyerIncertaindetailswecouldspare,ButratherwasadebonairShrewdbandit,skilledasbanjo—player:
ThatSolomonsangthefleshlyFair,AndgavetheChurchnothoughtwhate\'er;
ThatEstherwithherroyalwear,AndMordecai,thesonofJair,AndJoshua\'striumphs,Job\'sdespair,AndBalaam\'sass\'sbitterblare;
Nebuchadnezzar\'sfurnace—flare,AndDanielandthedenaffair,Andotherstoriesrichandrare,WerewrittomakeolddoctrinewearSomethingofaromanticair:
ThattheNainwidow\'sonlyheir,AndLazaruswithcadaverousglare(AsdoneinoilsbyPiombo\'scare)
DidnotreturnfromSheol\'slair:
ThatJaelsetafiendishsnare,ThatPontiusPilateactedsquare,ThatneveraswordcutMalchus\'earAnd(butforshameImustforbear)
That—didnotreappear!
—Sincethustheyhint,norturnahair,AllchurchgoingwillIforswear,AndsitonSundaysinmychair,AndreadthatmoderatemanVoltaire。