Wegraspatallthewealthitistothem；
Andbyreflectedlightitsworthisfound。
Yetforusstill’tisnothing!andthatzealOffalseappreciationquicklyfades。
Thistruthislittleknowntohumanshades，Howrarefromtheirowninstinct’tistofeel!
Theywastethesoulwithspuriousdesire，Thatisnottheripeflameuponthebough。
WetwohavetakenupalifelessvowTorobalingpassion：dustforfire!
Madamisgrave，andeyestheclockthattellsApproachingmidnight。WehavestruckdespairIntotwohearts。O，lookwelikeapairWhoforfreshnuptialsjoyfullyyieldallelse？
Iamtofollowher。ThereismuchgraceInwomanwhenthusbentonmartyrdom。
Theythinkthatdignityofsoulmaycome，Perchance，withdignityofbody。Base!
ButIwastakenbythatairofcoldAndstatuesquesedateness，whenshesaid’I’mgoing’；litataper，bowedherhead，Andwent，aswiththestrideofPallasbold。
Fleshlyindifferencehorrible!ThehandsOfTimenowsignal：O，she’ssafefromme!
WithinthosesecretwallswhatdoIsee？
Wherefirstshesetthetaperdownshestands：
NotPallas：Hebeshamed!ThoughtsblackasdeathLikeastirredpoolinsunshinebreak。HerwristsIcatch：shefaltering，asshehalfresists，’Youlove……？love……？love……？’allonanindrawnbreath。
Markwherethepressingwindshootsjavelin-likeItsskeletonshadowonthebroad-backedwave!
HereisafittingspottodigLove’sgrave；
Herewheretheponderousbreakersplungeandstrike，Anddarttheirhissingtongueshighupthesand：
Inhearingoftheocean，andinsightOfthoseribbedwind-streaksrunningintowhite。
IfIthedeathofLovehaddeeplyplanned，Inevercouldhavemadeithalfsosure，AsbytheunblestkisseswhichupbraidThefull-wakedsense；orfailingthat，degrade!
’Tismorning：butnomorningcanrestoreWhatwehaveforfeited。Iseenosin：
Thewrongismed。Intragiclife，Godwot，Nollainneedbe!Passionsspintheplot：
Wearebetrayedbywhatisfalsewithin。
Theysay，thatPityinLove’ssercedwells，Aporterattherosytemple’sgate。
Imissedhimgoing：butitismyfateTocomeuponhimnowbesidehiswells；
WherebyIknowthatILove’stempleleave，Andthatthepurpledoorshaveclosedbehind。
Poorsoul!if，inthoseearlydaysunkind，Thypowertostinghadbeenbutpowertogrieve，Wenowmightwithanequalspiritmeet，Andnotbematchedlikeinnocenceandce。
ShefortheTemple’sworshiphaspaidprice，AndtakesthecoinofPityasacheat。
Sheseesthroughsimulationtothebone：
What’sbestinherimpelshertotheworst：
Never，shecries，shallPitysootheLove’sthirst，Orfoulhypocrisyfortruthatone!
Itistheseasonofthesweetwildrose，MyLady’semblemintheheartofme!
Sogolden-crownedshinesshegloriously，Andwiththatsoftestdreamofbloodsheglows；
MildasaneveningheavenroundHesperbright!
Iplucktheflower，andsmellit，andreveThetimewheninhereyesIstoodale。
IseemtolookuponitoutofNight。
Here’sMadam，steppinghastily。HerwhimsBidherdemandtheflower，whichIletdrop。
AsIproceed，Ifeelhersharplystop，Andcrushitunderheelwithtremblinglimbs。
Shejoinsmeinacat-likeway，andtalksOfcompany，andevencondescendsToutterlaughingscandalofoldfriends。
Thesearethesummerdays，andtheseourwalks。
Atlastweparley：wesostrangelydumbInsuchaclosecommunion!ItbefellAboutthesoundingoftheMatin-bell，Andlo!herplacewasvacant，andthehumOflonelinesswasroundme。ThenIrose，AndmydisorderedbraindidguidemyfootTothatoldwoodwhereourfirstlove-saluteWasinterchanged：thesourceofmanythroes!
TheredidIseeher，notalone。ImovedTowardher，andmadeprofferofmyarm。
Shetookitsimply，withnorudealarm；
Andthatdisturbingshadowpassedreproved。
Ifeltthepainedspeechcoming，anddeclaredMyfirmbeliefinher，ereshecouldspeak。
Aghastlymorningcameintohercheek，Whilewithawideningsoulonmeshestared。
Wesawtheswallowsgatheringinthesky，Andintheosier-isleweheardthemnoise。
Wehadnottolookbackonsummerjoys，Orforwardtoasummerofbrightdye：
ButinthelargenessoftheeveningearthOurspiritsgrewaswewentsidebyside。
Thehourbecameherhusbandandmybride。
Love，thathadrobbedusso，thusblessedourdearth!
ThepilgrimsoftheyearwaxedveryloudInmultitudinouschatterings，asthefloodFullbrowncamefromtheWest，andlikepalebloodExpandedtotheuppercrimsoncloud。
Love，thathadrobbedusofimmortalthings，Thislittlemomentmercifullygave，WhereIhaveseenacrossthetwilightwaveTheswansailwithheryoungbeneathherwings。
Theirsenseiswiththeirsensesallmedin，Destroyedbysubtletiesthesewomenare!
Morebrain，OLord，morebrain!orweshallmarUtterlythisfairgardenwemightwin。
Behold!Ilookedforpeace，andthoughtitnear。
Ourinmostheartshadopened，eachtoeach。
Wedrankthepuredaylightofhonestspeech。
Alas!thatwasthefataldraught，Ifear。
ForwhenofmylostLadycametheword，Thiswoman，Othisagonyofflesh!
Jealousdevotionbadeherbreakthemesh，ThatImightseekthatotherlikeabird。
Idoadorethenobleness!despiseTheact!Shehasgoneforth，Iknownotwhere。
WillthehardworldmysentienceofhershareIfeelthetruth；solettheworldsurmise。
Hefoundherbytheocean’smoaningverge，Noranywickedchangeinherdiscerned；
Andshebelievedhisoldlovehadreturned，Whichwasherexultation，andherscourge。
Shetookhishand，andwalkedwithhim，andseemedThewifehesought，thoughshadow-likeanddry。
Shehadoneterror，lestherheartshouldsigh，Andtellherloudlyshenolongerdreamed。
Shedarednotsay，’Thisismybreast：lookin。’
Butthere’sastrengthtohelpthedesperateweak。
ThatnighthelearnedhowsilencebestcanspeakTheawfulthingswhenPitypleadsforSin。
AboutthemiddleofthenighthercallWasheard，andhecamewonderingtothebed。
’Nowkissme，dear!itmaybe，now!’shesaid。
Lethehadpassedthoselips，andheknewall。
L
ThuspiteouslyLoveclosedwhathebegat：
Theunionofthisever-dersepair!
Thesetwowererapidfalconsinasnare，Condemnedtodotheflittingofthebat。
LoversbeneaththesingingskyofMay，Theywanderedonce；clearasthedewonflowers：
Buttheyfednotontheadvancinghours：
Theirheartsheldcrangsfortheburiedday。
Theneachappliedtoeachthatfatalknife，Deepquestioning，whichprobestoendlessdole。
Ah，whatadustyanswergetsthesoulWhenhotforcertaintiesinthisourlife!-
IntragichintshereseewhatevermoreMovesdarkasyondermidnightocean’sforce，Thunderinglikerampinghostsofwarriorhorse，Tothrowthatfaintthinfineupontheshore!
THEPATRIOTENGINEER
’Sirs!mayIshakeyourhands？
Mycountrymen，Isee!
I’veledinforeignlandsTillEngland’sHeaventome。
Aheartyshakewilldomegood，Andfreshenupmysluggishblood。’
Intohishardrighthandwestruck，Gavetheshake，andwish’dhimluck。
’——FromAustriaIcome，AnEnglishwifetowin，AndfindanEnglishhome，Andleanddietherein。
GreatLord!howmanyayearI’vepinedTodrinkoldaleandspeakmymind!’
Loudrangourlaughter，andtheshoutHillsroundtheMeuse-boatechoedabout。
’——Ay，nooffence：laughon，Younggentlemen：I’lljoin。
Hadyoutoelegone，Wherefreespeechisbasecoin，You’dsightoseethejollynoseWhereFreedom’snateliquorflows!’
Hethistimethelaughterled，Dabblinghisoilybullethead。
’——Geme，tosuitmymoods，Anale-houseonaheath，I’llhandthecragsandwoodsToB’elzebubbeneath。
Afigforscenery!whatsceneCanbeataJackassonagreen？’
Gravelyheseem’d，withgazeintense，Puttingthequestiontocommonsense。
’——Why，there’stheale-housebench：
Thefurze-flowershininground：
Andthere’smywaiting-wench，Aslissomeasahound。
With“hailBritannia!“ereIdrink，I’llkissherwithanartfulwink。’
Fairflash’dtheforeignlandscapewhileWebreath’dagainournateIsle。
’——Thegeesemayswimhard-by；
Theygabble，andyoutalk：
You’resurethere’snotaspyTomarkyournamewithchalk。
Myheart’sanoak，anditwon’tgrowInflower-pots，foreignersmustknow。’
Pensehestood：thenshookhisheadSadly；heldouthisfist，andsaid：
’——You’veheardthatHungary’sfloor’d？
They’vegotherontheground。
Atraitorbrokehersword：
Twodespotsheldherbound。
I’veseenhergaspingherlasthope：
I’veseenhersonsstrungupb’therope。
’NinegallantgentlemenInAradtheystrungup!
Iwork’dinpeacetillthen：-
Thatpoison’dallmycup。
Asmellofcorpseshauntedme：
Mynostrilsniff’dlikelifeforsea。
’TakemoneyformyhireFrombutchers？——nottheman!
I’vegotsomenaturalfire，Anddon’tflashinthepan；-
AfewideasIreveal’d：-
’TwaswelloldEnglandstoodmyshield!
’SaidI，“TheLordofHostsHavemercyonyourland!
Iseethosedanglingghosts，-
Andyoumaykeepcommand，Andhang，andshoot，andhaveyourday：
Theyholdyourbill，andyoumustpay。
’“You’vesentthemwherethey’restrong，YoucarrionDouble-Head!
IhearthemsoundagongInHeavenabove!“——Isaid。
“MyGod，whatfeatherswon’tyoumoultForthis!“saysI：andthenIbolt。
’TheBird’sabeastlyBird，Andwhatismore，afool。
IshakehandswiththeherdThatflockbeneathhisrule。
They’rekindly；andtheirlandisfine。