Isthatit？’heasked；andthesilencetheelderspreservedplainlysaid，OnMary’sheangbosomthisbegging-petitionwasread。
AndthatitwasscarcelyabargainthatshewhohaddrenhimwildShouldsharenowthefruitsofhisvalour，thewomenexpressed，astheysmiled。
ThefamilyprideoftheBridgemanswascomforted；still，withcontempt，Theylookedonamonieddamselofmodestyquitesoexempt。
’Ogemeforcetotellthem!’criedMary，andevenasshespoke，Ashoutandahushofthechildren：asiononallofthembroke。
Wheeled，pale，inachair，andshattered，thewreckoftheirherowasseen；
TheghostofTomdrawnslowo’ertheorchard’sshadowygreen。
Couldthisbethemartialdarlingtheyjoyedinamomentago？
’Heknowsit？’toMaryTommurmured，andclosedhisweaklidsather’No。’
’Beloved!’shesaid，fallingbyhim，’Ihavebeenacoward：I
thoughtYoulayintheforeigncountry，andsomestrangegoodmightbewrought。
’EachdayIhavecometotellhim，andfailed，withmyhandonthegate。
Iborethedreadfulknowledge，andcrushedmyheartwithitsweight。
Theletterbroughtbyyourcomrade——hehasbutjustreaditaloud!
Itonlyreachedhimthismorning!’Herheadonhisshouldershebowed。
ThenTomwithpity’stenderestlordlinesspattedherarm，Andeyedtheoldwhite-headfondly，withsomethingofdoubtandalarm。
O，taketoyourfancyasculptorwhosefreshmarbleoffspringappearsBeforehim，shininglyperfect，thelaurel-crown’dissueofyears：
Isheavenoffended？forlightningbeholdfromitsbosomescape，Andthosearemockingfragmentsthatmadetheharmoniousshape!
Hecannotlovetheruins，till，feelingthatruinsaloneAreleft，helovesthemthreefold。Sopassedtheoldgrandfather’smoan。
John’stextforasermononSlaughterheheard，andhedidnotprotest。
AllrigidasAprilsnowdrifts，hestood，hardandfeeble；hischestJustshowingtheswellofthefireasitmeltedhim。Smitingarib，’Heigh!whathavewebeenabout，Tom!Wasthisallaterriblefib？’
Hecried，andtheletterforth-trembled。Tomtoldwhatthecannonhaddone。
Fewpresentbutachedtoseefallingthoseagedtearsonhisheart’sson!
Uplanesofthequietllage，andwherethemill-watersrushredThro’browningsummermeadowstocatchthesun’scrimsoninghead，YoumeetanoldmanandamaidenwhohasthesoftwaysofawifeWithonewhomtheywheel，alternate；whosedelicateflushofnewlifeIsprizedliketheearlyprimrose。Thenshakehisrighthand，inthechair-
Theoldmanfailsnevertotellyou：’You’vegottheFrenchGeneral’sthere!’
Howlowwhenangelsfalltheirblackdescent，Ourprimalthundertells：knownisthepainOfmusic，thatnighthroningwisdomwent，Andonefalsenotecastwailfultotheinsane。
NowseemsthelanguageheardofLoveasrainTomakeamirewherefruitfulnesswasmeant。
Thegoldenharpgesoutajangledstrain，Toolikerevoltfromheaven’sOmnipotent。
Butlisteninthethought；somaytherecomeConceptionofanewly-addedchord，Commandingspacebeyondwhereearhashome。
Inlabourofthetroubleatitsfount，LeadsLifetoanintelligibleLordTherebeldiscordsupthesacredmount。
Bythisheknewsheweptwithwakingeyes：
That，athishand’slightquerbyherhead，ThestrangelowsobsthatshooktheircommonbedWerecalledintoherwithasharpsurprise，Andstrangledmute，likelittlegapingsnakes，Dreadfullyvenomoustohim。ShelayStone-still，andthelongdarknessflowedawayWithmuffledpulses。Then，asmidnightmakesHergiantheartofMemoryandTearsDrinkthepaledrugofsilence，andsobeatSleep’sheavymeasure，theyfromheadtofeetWeremoveless，lookingthroughtheirdeadblackyears，Byvainregretscrawledovertheblankwall。
LikesculpturedeffigiestheymightbeseenUpontheirmarriage-tomb，theswordbetween；
Eachwishingfortheswordthatseversall。
Itended，andthemorrowbroughtthetask。
Hereyeswereguiltygates，thatlethiminByshuttingalltoozealousfortheirsin：
Eachsuckedasecret，andeachworeamask。
But，oh，thebittertasteherbeautyhad!
Hesickenedasatbreathofpoison-flowers：
Alanguidhumourstoleamongthehours，Andiftheirsmilesencountered，hewentmad，Andrageddeepinward，tillthelightwasbrownBeforehission，andtheworld，forgot，Lookedwickedassomeolddullmurder-spot。
Astarwithluridbeams，sheseemedtocrownThepitofinfamy：andthenagainHefaintedonhisvengefulness，andstroveToapethemagnanimityoflove，Andsmotehimself，ashudderingheapofpain。
Thiswasthewoman；whatnowoftheman？
Butpasshim。Ifhecomesbeneathaheel，Heshallbecrusheduntilhecannotfeel，Or，beingcallous，haplytillhecan。
Butheisnothing：-nothing？OnlymarkTherichlightstrikingoutfromheronhim!
Ha!whatasenseitiswhenhereyesswimAcrossthemanshesingles，leangdarkAllelse!LordGod，whomad’stthethingsofair，SeethatIamdrawntoherevennow!
ItcannotbesuchharmonhercoolbrowToputakiss？YetifImeethimthere!
Butsheismine!Ah，no!IknowtoowellIclaimastarwhoselightisovercast：
Iclaimaphantom-womaninthePast。
Thehourhasstruck，thoughIheardnotthebell!
Allotherjoysoflifehestrovetowarm，Andmagnify，andcatchthemtohislip：
Buttheyhadsufferedshipwreckwiththeship，Andgazeduponhimsallowfromthestorm。
OrifDelusioncame，’twasbuttoshowThecomingminutemocktheonethatwent。
Coldasamountaininitsstar-pitchedtent，StoodhighPhilosophy，lessfriendthanfoe：
Whomself-cagedPassion，fromitsprison-bars，Isalwayswatchingwithawonderinghate。
Nottillthefireisdyinginthegrate，Lookweforanykinshipwiththestars。
Oh，wisdomnevercomeswhenitisgold，Andthegreatpricewepayforitfullworth：
Wehaveitonlywhenwearehalfearth。
Littleavailsthatcoinagetotheold!
Amessagefromhersethisbrainaflame。
Aworldofhouseholdmattersfilledhermind，Whereinhesawhypocrisydesigned：
Shetreatedhimassomethingthatistame，Andbutatotherprovocationbites。
Familiarwashershoulderintheglass，Throughthatdarkrain：yetitmaycometopassThatachangedeyefindssuchfamiliarsightsMorekeenlytemptingthannewloveliness。
The’Whathasbeen’amomentseemedhisown：
Thesplendours，mysteries，dearerbecauseknown，Norlessdine：Love’sinmostsacrednessCalledtohim，’Come!’——Inhisrestrainingstart，EyesnurturedtobelookedatscarcecouldseeAwaveofthegreatwavesofDestinyConvulsedatacheckedimpulseoftheheart。
Itchancedhislipsdidmeetherforeheadcool。
Shehadnoblush，butslanteddownhereye。
Shamednature，then，confesseslovecandie：
AndmostshepunishesthetenderfoolWhowillbelievewhathonoursherthemost!
Dead!isitdead？Shehasapulse，andflowOftears，thepriceofblood-drops，asIknow，ForwhomthemidnightsobsaroundLove’sghost，SincethenIheardher，andsowillsobon。
Theloveishere；ithasbutchangeditsaim。
Obitterbarrenwoman!what’sthename？
Thename，thename，thenewnamethouhastwon？
Beholdmestrikingtheworld’scowardstroke!
ThatwillInotdo，thoughthestingisdire-
Beneaththesurfacethis，whilebythefireTheysat，shelaughingataquietjoke。
Sheissuesradiantfromherdressing-room，Likeonepreparedtoscaleanuppersphere：-
Bystirringupalower，muchIfear!
Howdeftlythatoiledbarberlayshisbloom!
Thatlong-shankeddapperCupidwithfriskedcurlsCanmakeknownwomentorturinglyfair；
Thegold-eyedserpentdwellinginrichhairAwakesbeneathhismagicwhisksandtwirls。
Hisartcantaketheeyesfromoutmyhead，UntilIseewitheyesofothermen；
Whiledeeperknowledgecrouchesinitsden，Andsendsasparkup：-isittruewearewed？
Yea!filthinessofbodyismostle，ButfaithlessnessofheartIdoholdworse。
Theformer，itwerenotsogreatacurseToreadonthesteel-mirrorofhersmile。
Yetitwasplainshestruggled，andthatsaltOfrighteousfeelingmadeherpitiful。
Poortwistingworm，soqueenlybeautiful!
Wherecamethecleftbetweenus？whosethefault？
Mytearsareonthee，thathaverarelydroppedAsbalmforanybitterwoundofmine：
Mybreastwillopenfortheeatasign!
But，no：wearetworeed-pipes，coarselystopped：
TheGodoncefilledthemwithhismellowbreath；
Andtheyweremusictillheflungthemdown，Used!used!Hearnowthediscord-longclownPuffhisgrossspiritinthem，worsethandeath!
Idonotknowmyselfwithouttheemore：
InthisunholybattleIgrowbase：
Ifthesamesoulbeunderthesameface，Speak，andatasteofthatoldtimerestore!
HefeltthewildbeastinhimbetweenwhilesSomasterfullyrude，thathewouldgrieveToseethehelplessdelicatethingreceeHisguardianshipthroughcertaindarkdefiles。
Hadhenotteethtorend，andhungertoo？
Butstillhesparedher。Once：’Haveyounofear？’
Hesaid：’twasdusk；sheinhisgrasp；nonenear。
Shelaughed：’No，surely；amInotwithyou？’
Andutteringthatsoftstarry’you，’sheleanedHergentlebodynearhim，lookingup；
Andfromhereyes，asfromapoison-cup，Hedrankuntiltheflitteringeyelidsscreened。
Delishmalignantwitch!andoh，youngbeamOfheaven’scircle-glory!HerethyshapeTosqueezelikeanintocatinggrape-
Imight，andyetthougoestsafe，supreme。
X
Butwherebeganthechange；andwhat’smycrime？
Thewretchcondemned，whohasnotbeenarraigned，Chafesathissentence。ShallI，unsustained，DragonLove’snervelessbodythro’alltime？
Imusthaveslept，sincenowIwake。Prepare，Youlovers，toknowLoveathingofmoods：
Not，likehardlife，oflaws。InLove’sdeepwoods，IdreamtofloyalLife：-theoffenceisthere!
Love’sjealouswoodsaboutthesunarecurled；
Atleast，thesunfarbrightertheredidbeam-
Mycrimeis，thatthepuppetofadream，Iplottedtobeworthyoftheworld。
Oh，hadIwithmydarlinghelpedtominceThefactsoflife，youstillhadseenmegoWithhindwardfeatherandwithforwardtoe，Hermuch-adoreddelightfulFairyPrince!
Outintheyellowmeadows，wherethebeeHumsbyuswiththehoneyoftheSpring，AndshowersofsweetnotesfromthelarksonwingAredroppinglikeanoon-dew，wanderwe。
Orisitnow？orwasitthen？fornow，Asthen，thelarksfromrunningringspourshowers：
ThegoldenfootofMayisontheflowers，Andfriendlyshadowsdanceuponherbrow。
What’sthis，whenNatureswearsthereisnochangeTochallengeeyesight？Now，asthen，thegraceOfheavenseemsholdingearthinitsembrace。
Noreyes，norheart，hasshetofeelitstrange？
Look，woman，intheWest。TherewiltthouseeAnambercradlenearthesun’sdecline：