X
Therichredwindowsdimthemoon，ButlittlelightneedI;
Imounttheprie—dieu，latelyhewnFromwoodsofrarestdye;
ThenfrombelowMygarment，so，Idrawthiscord，andtieXI
OneendthereofaroundthebeamMidway\'twixtCrossandtruss:
Inoosethenethermostextreme，AndintensecondsthusIjourneyhence
TothatlandwhenceNorumourreachesus。
XII
Well:Hereatmornthey\'lllightononeDanglinginmockeryOfwhathespenthissubstanceonBlindlyanduselessly！
\"Hemight，\"they\'llsay，\"Havebuilt，someway。
Acheapergallows—tree！\"
THELOSTPYX
AMEDIAEVALLEGEND{3}
Somesaythespotisbanned;thatthepillarCross—and—HandAtteststoadeedofhell;
ButofelsethanofbaleisthemystictaleThatancientVale—folktell。
EreCernel\'sAbbeyceasedhereabouttheredweltapriest，（Inlaterlifesub—priorOfthebrotherhoodthere，whosebonesarenowbareInthefieldthatwasCernelchoir）。
OnenightinhiscellatthefootofyondellThepriestheardafrequentcry:
\"Go，father，inhastetothecotonthewaste，Andshriveamanwaitingtodie。\"
Saidthepriestinashouttothecallerwithout，\"Thenighthowls，thetree—trunksbow;
Onemaybarelybydaytracksoruggedaway，AndcanIthendosonow？\"
Nofurtherwordfromthedarkwasheard，Andthepriestmovedneveralimb;
Andhesleptanddreamed;tillaVisageseemedTofrownfromHeavenathim。
Inasweathearose;andthestormshriekedshrill，Andsmoteasinsavagejoy;
WhileHigh—StoytreestwangedtoBubb—DownHill，AndBubb—DowntoHigh—Stoy。
Thereseemednotaholythinginhail，Norshapeoflightorlove，FromtheAbbeynorthofBlackmoreValeTotheAbbeysouththereof。
Yetheploddedthencethroughthedarkimmense，AndwithmanyastumblingstrideThroughcopseandbriarclimbednighandnigherTothecotandthesickman\'sside。
WhenhewouldhaveunslungtheVesselsuphungTohisarminthesteepascent，Hemadeloudmoan:thePyxwasgoneOftheBlessedSacrament。
Thenindolorousdreadhebeathishead:
\"NoearthlyprizeorpelfIsthethingI\'velostintempesttossed，ButtheBodyofChristHimself！\"
HethoughtoftheVisagehisdreamrevealed，Andturnedtowardswhencehecame，Handsgropingthegroundalongfoot—trackandfield，Andheadinaheatofshame。
Tillhereonthehill，betwixtvillandvill，HenotedaclearstraightrayStretchingdownfromtheskytoaspothardby，Whichshonewiththelightofday。
AndgatheredaroundtheilluminedgroundWerecommonbeastsandrare，Allkneelingatgaze，andinpauseprofoundAttentonanobjectthere。
\'TwasthePyx，unharmed\'midthecirclingrowsOfBlackmore\'shairythrong，Whereofwereoxen，sheep，anddoes，Andharesfromthebrakesamong;
Andbadgersgrey，andconieskeen，Andsquirrelsofthetree，AndmanyamemberseldomseenOfNature\'sfamily。
TheirefulwindsthatscouredandsweptThroughcoppice，clump，anddell，WithinthatholycirclesleptCalmasinhermit\'scell。
ThenthepriestbentlikewisetothesodAndthankedtheLordofLove，AndBlessedMary，MotherofGod，Andallthesaintsabove。
Andturningstraightwithhispricelessfreight，Hereachedthedyingone，WhosepassingspritehadbeenstayedfortheriteWithoutwhichblisshathnone。
Andwhenbygracethepriestwonplace，AndservedtheAbbeywell，HerearedthisstonetomarkwhereshoneThatmidnightmiracle。
TESS\'SLAMENT
I
Iwouldthatfolkforgotmequite，Forgotmequite！
IwouldthatIcouldshrinkfromsight，Andnomoreseethesun。
Woulditweretimetosayfarewell，Toclaimmynook，toneedmyknell，TimeforthemalltostandandtellOfmyday\'sworkasdone。
II
Ah！dairywhereIlivedsolong，Ilivedsolong;
WhereIwouldriseupstanchandstrong，Andliedownhopefully。
\'Twastherewithinthechimney—seatHewatchedmetotheclock\'sslowbeat
Lovedme，andlearnttocallmesweet，Andwhisperedwordstome。
III
Andnowhe\'sgone;andnowhe\'sgone;
Andnowhe\'sgone！
Theflowerswepottedp\'rhapsarethrownTorotuponthefarm。
Andwherewehadoursupper—fireMaynowgrownettle，dock，andbriar，AndalltheplacebemouldandmireSocozyonceandwarm。
IV
AnditwasIwhodiditall，Whodiditall;
\'TwasIwhomadetheblowtofallOnhimwhothoughtnoguile。
Well，itisfinished—past，andheHasleftmetomymisery，AndImusttakemyCrossonmeForwronginghimawhile。
V
Howgaywelookedthatdaywewed，Thatdaywewed！
\"Mayjoybewithye！\"allo\'msaidAstandingbythedurn。
Iwonderwhattheysayo\'snow，Andiftheyknowmylot;andhowShefeelswhomilksmyfavouritecow，Andtakesmyplaceatchurn！
VI
Itwearsmeouttothinkofit，Tothinkofit;
Icannotbearmyfateaswrit，I\'dhavemylifeunbe;
Wouldturnmymemorytoablot，Makeeveryrelicofmerot，Mydoingsbeastheywerenot，Andwhatthey\'vebroughttome！