THEWELL—BELOVED
IwayedbystarandplanetshineTowardsthedearone\'shomeAtKingsbere，theretomakehermineWhenthenextsunupclomb。
IedgedtheancienthillandwoodBesidetheIklingWay，NighwherethePagantemplestoodIntheworld\'searlierday。
AndasIquickandquickerwalkedOngravelandongreen，Isangtosky，andtree，ortalkedOfherIcalledmyqueen。
—\"Ofaultlessisherdaintyform，Andluminoushermind;
SheistheGod—creatednormOfperfectwomankind！\"
Ashapewhereononestar—blinkgleamedGlodesoftlybymyside，Awoman\'s;andhermotionseemedThemotionofmybride。
Andyetmethoughtshe\'ddrawnerstwhileAdowntheancientleaze，WhereoncewerepileandperistyleFormen\'sidolatries。
—\"Omaidenlitheandlone，whatmayThynameandlineagebe，WhosoresemblestbythisrayMydarling？—Artthoushe？\"
TheShape:\"ThybrideremainswithinHerfather\'sgrangeandgrove。\"
—\"Thouspeakestrightly，\"Ibrokein，\"ThouartnotsheIlove。\"
—\"Nay:thoughthybrideremainsinsideHerfather\'swalls，\"saidshe，\"Theonemostdeariswiththeehere，Forthoudostlovebutme。\"
ThenI:\"Butshe，myonlychoice，IsnowatKingsbereGrove？\"
Againhersoftmysteriousvoice:
\"IamthyonlyLove。\"
Thusstillshevouched，andstillIsaid，\"Osprite，thatcannotbe！\"
Itwasasifmybosombled，Somuchshetroubledme。
Thespriteresumed:\"ThouhasttransferredToherdullformawhileMybeauty，fame，anddeed，andword，Mygesturesandmysmile。
\"Ofatuousman，thistruthinfer，Bridesarenotwhattheyseem;
Thoulovestwhatthoudreamesther;
Iamthyverydream！\"
—\"Othen，\"Iansweredmiserably，SpeakingasscarceIknew，\"Mylovedone，ImustwedwiththeeIfwhatthousay\'stbetrue！\"
She，proudly，thinninginthegloom:
\"Though，sincetroth—plightbegan，I\'veeverstoodasbridetogroom，Iwednomortalman！\"
ThereatshevanishedbytheCrossThat，enteringKingsberetown，Thetwolonglanesform，nearthefosseBelowthefanelessDown。
—WhenIarrivedandmetmybride，Herlookwaspinchedandthin，Asifhersoulhadshrunkanddied，Andleftawastewithin。
HERREPROACH
Conthedeadpageas\'twerelivelove:presson！
Coldwisdom\'swordswilleasethytrackforthee;
Aye，go;castoffsweetways，andleavemewanTobitingblaststhatareintentonme。
ButifthyobjectFame\'sfarsummitsbe，Whoseinclinesmanyaskeletono\'erliesThatmissedbothdreamandsubstance，stopandseeHowabsencewearsthesecheeksanddimstheseeyes！
ItsurelyisfarsweeterandmorewiseTowaterlove，thantoiltoleaveanonAnamewhoseglory—gleamwillbutadviseInvidiousmindstoquenchitwiththeirown，AndoverwhichthekindliestwillbutstayAmoment，musing，\"He，too，hadhisday！\"
WESTBOURNEPARKVILLAS，1867。
THEINCONSISTENT
Isay，\"Shewasasgoodasfair，\"
Whenstandingbyhermound;
\"Suchpassingsweetness，\"Ideclare，\"Nolongertreadstheground。\"
Isay，\"WhatlivingLovecancatchHerbloomandbonhomie，AndwhatinnewermaidensmatchHeroldenwarmthtome！\"
—Therestandswithinyonvestry—nookWherebondedloverssign，HernameuponafadedbookWithonethatisnotmine。
TohimshebreathedthetendervowSheoncehadbreathedtome，ButyetIsay，\"Olove，evennowWouldIhaddiedforthee！\"
ABROKENAPPOINTMENT
Youdidnotcome，AndmarchingTimedrewon，andworemenumb。
YetlessforlossofyourdearpresencethereThanthatIthusfoundlackinginyourmakeThathighcompassionwhichcanoverbearReluctanceforpurelovingkindness\'sakeGrievedI，when，asthehope—hourstrokeditssum，Youdidnotcome。
Youlovenotme，Andlovealonecanlendyouloyalty;
—Iknowandknewit。But，untothestoreOfhumandeedsdivineinallbutname，WasitnotworthalittlehourormoreToaddyetthis:Once，you，awoman，cameTosootheatime—tornman;eventhoughitbeYoulovenotme？
\"BETWEENUSNOW\"
Betweenusnowandhere
TwothrowntogetherWhoarenotwonttowearLife\'sflushestfeather
Whoseethescenesslidepast，Thedaytimesdimmingfast，Lettherebetruthatlast，Evenifdespair。
SothoroughlyandlongHaveyounowknownme，SorealinfaithandstrongHaveInowshownme，ThatnothingneedsdisguiseFurtherinanywise，OrasksorjustifiesAguardedtongue。
Faceuntoface，then，say，Eyesmineownmeeting，Isyourheartfaraway，Orwithminebeating？
Whenfalsethingsarebroughtlow，Andswiftthingshavegrownslow，Feigninglikefrothshallgo，Faithbeforaye。
\"HOWGREATMYGRIEF\"
（TRIOLET）
Howgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Sincefirstitwasmyfatetoknowthee！
—HavetheslowyearsnotbroughttoviewHowgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Normemoryshapedoldtimesanew，Norloving—kindnesshelpedtoshowtheeHowgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Sincefirstitwasmyfatetoknowthee？
\"INEEDNOTGO\"
IneednotgoThroughsleetandsnowTowhereIknowShewaitsforme;
ShewillwaitmethereTillIfinditfair，AndhavetimetospareFromcompany。
WhenI\'veovergotTheworldsomewhat，WhenthingscostnotSuchstressandstrain，IssoonenoughBycypresssoughTotellmyLoveIamcomeagain。
Andifsomeday，Whennonecriesnay，IstilldelayToseekherside，（ThoughamplemeasureOffittingleisureAwaitmypleasure）
Shewillriotchide。
What—notupbraidmeThatIdelayedme，NoraskwhatstayedmeSolong？Ah，no！
Newcaresmayclaimme，Newlovesinflameme，Shewillnotblameme，Butsufferitso。
THECOQUETTE，ANDAFTER
（TRIOLETS）
I
ForlongthecruelwishIknewThatyourfreeheartshouldacheformeWhilemineshouldbearnoacheforyou;
For，long—thecruelwish！—IknewHowmencanfeel，andcravedtoviewMytriumph—fatednottobeForlong！ThecruelwishIknewThatyourfreeheartshouldacheforme！
II
Atlastonepaysthepenalty
Thewoman—womenalwaysdo。
Myfarce，Ifound，wastragedyAtlast！—OnepaysthepenaltyWithinterestwhenone，fancy—free，Learnslove，learnsshameOfsinnerstwoAtlastONEpaysthepenalty
Thewoman—womenalwaysdo！
ASPOT
Inyearsdefacedandlost，Twosathere，transport—tossed，LitbyalivingloveThewiltedworldknewnothingof:
ScaredmomentlyBygaingivings，ThenhopingthingsThatcouldnotbe。
OfloveandusnotraceAbidesupontheplace;
Thesunandshadowswheel，Seasonandseasonserewardsteal;
FouldaysandfairHere，too，prevail，AndgustandgaleAseverywhere。
ButlonelyshepherdsoulsWhobaskamidtheseknollsMaycatchafaerysoundOnsleepynoontidesfromtheground:
\"OnotagainTillEarthoutwearsShallloveliketheirsSuffusethisglen！\"