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!