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：