Withinit，featuredevenindeathdine，Islyingadeadinfant，slainbythee。
NotsolelythattheFutureshedestroys，AndthefairlifewhichinthedistanceliesForallmen，beckoningoutfromdimrichskies：
Northatthepassinghour’ssupportingjoysHavelostthekeen-edgedflavour，whichbegatDistinctioninoldtimes，andstillshouldbreedSweetMemory，andHope，——earth’smodestseed，Andheaven’shigh-prompting：notthattheworldisflatSincethatsoft-luringcreatureIembracedAmongthechildrenofIllusionwent：
MethinkswithallthislossIwerecontent，IfthemadPast，onwhichmyfootisbased，Werefirm，ormightbeblotted：butthewholeOflifeismed：themockingPastwillstay：
AndifIdrinkoblionofaday，SoshortenIthestatureofmysoul。
’IplayforSeasons；notEternities!’
SaysNature，laughingonherway。’SomustAllthosewhosestakeisnothingmorethandust!’
Andlo，shewins，andofherharmoniesSheisfullsure!UponherdyingroseShedropsalookoffondness，andgoesby，Scarceanyretrospectioninhereye；
Forshethelawsofgrowthmostdeeplyknows，Whosehandsbear，here，aseed-bag——there，anurn。
Pledgedsheherselftoaught，’twouldmarkherend!
ThislessonofouronlysiblefriendCanwenotteachourfoolishheartstolearn？
Yes!yes!——but，oh，ourhumanroseisfairSurpassingly!LosecalmlyLove’sgreatbliss，WhentherenewedforeverofakissWhirlslifewithintheshowerofloosenedhair!
WhatsoulwouldbargainforacurethatbringsContemptthenobleragonytokill？
Ratherletmebearonthebitterill，Andstrikethisrustybosomwithnewstings!
Itseemsthereisanotherveeringfit，Sinceonagold-hairedlady’seyeballspureIlookedwithlittleprospectofacure，Thewhilehermouth’sredbowloosedshaftsofwit。
Justheaven!canitbetruethatjealousyHasdeckedthewomanthus？anddoesherheadSwimsomewhatforpossessionsforfeited？
Madam，youteachmemanythingsthatbe。
Iopenanoldbook，andthereIfindThat’Womenstillmaylovewhomtheydecee。’
SuchloveIprizenot，madam：byyourleave，Thegameyouplayatisnottomymind。
Ithinkshesleeps：itmustbesleep，whenlowHangsthatabandonedarmtowardthefloor；
Thefaceturnedwithit。Nowmakefastthedoor。
Sleepon：itisyourhusband，notyourfoe。
ThePoet’sblackstage-lionofwrongedloveFrightsnotourmoderndames：-wellifhedid!
NowwillIpournewlightuponthatlid，Full-slopinglikethebreastsbeneath。’Sweetdove，Yoursleepispure。Nay，pardon：Idisturb。
Idonot？good!’Herwakinginfant-stareGrowswomantotheburdenmyhandsbear：
HerownhandwritingtomewhennocurbWasleftonPassion’stongue。Shetremblesthrough；
Awoman’stremble——thewholeinstrument：-
Ishowanotherletterlatelysent。
Thewordsareverylike：thenameisnew。I
ouroldshipwreckeddaystherewasanhour，Wheninthefirelightsteadilyaglow，Joinedslackly，webeheldtheredchasmgrowAmongtheclickingcoals。Ourlibrary-bowerThatevewaslefttous：andhushedwesatAsloverstowhomTimeiswhispering。
Fromsudden-openeddoorsweheardthemsing：
Thenoddingeldersmedgoodwinewithchat。
WellknewwethatLife’sgreatesttreasurelayWithus，andofitwasourtalk。’Ah，yes!
Lovedies!’Isaid：Ineverthoughtitless。
Sheyearnedtomethatsentencetounsay。
Thenwhenthefiredomedblackening，IfoundHercheekwassaltagainstmykiss，andswiftUpthesharpscaleofsobsherbreastdidlift：-
NowamIhauntedbythattaste!thatsound!
Atdinner，sheishostess，Iamhost。
Wentthefeastevercheerfuller？ShekeepsTheTopicoverintellectualdeepsInbuoyancyafloat。Theyseenoghost。
Withsparklingsurface-eyesweplytheball：
Itisintruthamostcontagiousgame：
HIDINGTHESKELETON，shallbeitsname。
Suchplayasthisthedelsmightappal!
Buthere’sthegreaterwonder；inthatwe，Enamouredofanactingnoughtcantire，Eachother，liketruehypocrites，admire；
Warm-lightedlooks，Love’sephemerioe，Shootgailyo’erthedishesandthewine。
Wewakenenvyofourhappylot。
Fast，sweet，andgolden，showsthemarriage-knot。
Dearguests，younowhaveseenLove’scorpse-lightshine。
HereJackandTomarepairedwithMollandMeg。
Curvedopentotherer-reachisseenAcountrymerry-makingonthegreen。
Fairspaceforsignalshakingsoftheleg。
Thatlittlescrewyfiddlerfromhisbooth，Whenceflowsonenut-brownstream，commandsthejointsOfallwhocaperhereatvariouspoints。
Ihaveknownrusticrevelsinmyyouth：
TheMay-flypleasuresofamindatease。
Anearlygoddesswasacountrylass：
AcharmedAmphion-oakshetrippedthegrass。
WhatlifewasthatIled？Thelifeofthese？
Heavenkeepthemhappy!Naturetheyseemnear。
Theymust，Ithink，bewiserthanIam；
Theyhavethesecretofthebullandlamb。
’Tistruethatwhenwetraceitssource，’tisbeer。
Nostateisenable。TotheluckaloneOfsomefewfavouredmenIwouldputclaim。
Ibleed，butherwhowoundsIwillnotblame。
HaveInotfeltherheartas’tweremyownBeatthro’me？couldIhurther？heavenandhell!
ButIcouldhurthercruelly!CanIletMyLove’soldtime-piecetoanotherset，Swearitcan’tstop，andmustforeverswell？
Sure，that’sonewayLovedriftsintothemartWheregoat-leggedbuyersthrong。Iseenotplain：-
Mymeaningis，itmustnotbeagain。
GreatGod!themaddestgamblerthrowshisheart。
Ifanystatebeenableonearth，’Tisyonbornidiot’s，who，asdaysgoby，Stillrubshishandsbeforehim，likeafly，Inaqueersortofmeditatemirth。
IamnotofthosemiserablemalesWhosniffatceand，daringnottosnap，Dothereforehopeforheaven。ItakethehapOfallmydeeds。ThewindthatfillsmysailsPropels；butIamhelmsman。AmIwrecked，IknowthedelhassufficientweightTobear：Ilayitnotonhim，orfate。
Besides，he’sdamned。ThatmanIdosuspectAcoward，whowouldburdenthepoordeuceWithwhatensuesfromhisownslipperiness。
Ihavejustfoundawanton-scentedtressInanolddesk，dustyforlackofuse。
Ofdaysandnightsitisdemonstrate，That，likesomeagedstar，gleamluridly。
IfforthosetimesImustaskcharity，HaveInotanycharitytoge？
Wethreeareonthecedar-shadowedlawn；
Myfriendbeingthird。HewhoatloveoncelaughedIsintheweakribbyafatalshaftStruckthrough，andtellshispassion’sbashfuldawnAndradiantculmination，gloriouscrown，When’this’shesaid：went’thus’：mostwondrousshe。
Oureyesgrowwhite，encountering：thatwearethree，Forgetful；thentogetherwelookdown。
Buthedemandsourblessing；isconncedThatwordsofweddedloversmustbringgood。
Wequestion；ifwedare!orifweshould!
Andpathim，withlightlaugh。Wehavenotwinced。
Next，shehasfallen。FaintingpointsthesignTohappythingsinwedlock。Whenshewakes，Shelooksthestarthatthro’thecedarshakes：
Herlostmoisthandclingsmortallytomine。
Whatmaythewomanlabourtoconfess？
Thereisabouthermouthanervoustwitch。
’Tissomethingtobetold，orhidden：-which？
Igetaglimpseofhellinthismildguess。
Shehasdesiresoftouch，asiftofeelThatallthehouseholdthingsarethingssheknew。
Shestopsbeforetheglass。Whatsightinew？
Afacethatseemsthelatesttoreveal!
Forsheturnsfromithastily，andtossedIrresolutestealsshadow-liketowhereIstand；andwaveringpalebeforemethere，Hertearsfallstillasoak-leavesafterfrost。
Shewillnotspeak。Iwillnotask。WeareLeague-sunderedbythesilentgulfbetween。
Youburlyloversonthellagegreen，Yoursisalower，andahappierstar!
’TisChristmasweather，andacountryhouseReceesus：roomsarefull：wecanbutgetAnattic-crib。SuchloverswillnotfretAtthat，itishalf-said。ThegreatcarouseKnocksharduponthemidnight’shollowdoor，ButwhenIknockathers，Iseethepit。
WhydidIcomehereinthatdullardfit？
Ienter，andliecoucheduponthefloor。
Passing，Icaughtthecoverlet’squickbeat：-
Come，Shame，burntomysoul!andPride，andPain-
Fouldemonsthathavetorturedme，enchain!
Outinthefreezingdarknessthelambsbleat。
Thesmallbirdstiffensinthelowstarlight。
Iknownothow，butshudderingasIslept，Idreamedabanishedangeltomecrept：
Myfeetwerenourishedonherbreastsallnight。
Themiseryisgreater，asIle!
Toknowherfleshsopure，sokeenhersense，Thatshedoespenancenowfornooffence，SaveagainstLove。ThelesscanIforge!
ThelesscanIforge，thoughIadoreThatcruellovelypallorwhichsurroundsHerfootsteps；andthelowbratingsoundsThatcomeonme，asfromamagicshore。
Lowarethey，butmostsubtletofindoutTheshrinkingsoul。Madam，’tisunderstoodWhenwomenplayupontheirwomanhood，Itmeans，aSeasongone。AndyetIdoubtButIamduped。Thatnun-likelookwaylaysMyfancy。Oh!Idobutwaitasign!
Pluckouttheeyesofpride!thymouthtomine!
Never!thoughIdiethirsting。Gothyways!
YoulikenotthatFrenchnovel？Tellmewhy。
Youthinkitquiteunnatural。Letussee。
Theactorsare，itseems，theusualthree：
Husband，andwife，andlover。She——butfie!
InEnglandwe’llnothearofit。Edmond，Thelover，herdevoutchagrindothshare；
Blanc-mangeandabsinthearehispenitentfare，Tillhispaleaspectmakesherover-fond：
So，toprecludefreshsin，hetriesrosbif。
Meantimethehusbandisnomoreabused：
Augusteforgeshererethetearisused。
ThenhangethallononetremendousIF：-
IFshewillchoosebetweenthem。Shedoeschoose；
Andtakesherhusband，likeaproperwife。
Unnatural？Mydear，thesethingsarelife：
Andlife，somethink，isworthyoftheMuse。
Loveerehebleeds，aneagleinhighskies，Hasearthbeneathhiswings：fromreddenedeveHeewstherosydawn。InvaintheyweaveThefatalwebbelowwhilefarheflies。