-- * In the original ed., 1864, the heading to this section was ‘At the Window’; changed in ed. of 1868. -- 1. Ah, Love, but a day, And the world has changed! The sun’s away, And the bird estranged; The wind has dropped, And the sky’s deranged: Summer has stopped. -- St. 1. Ah, Love, but a day: Rev. H. J. Bulkeley, in his paper on ‘James Lee’s Wife’ (‘Browning Soc. Papers’, iv., p. 457), explains, “One day’s absence from him has caused the world to change.” It’s better to understand that something has occurred to cause the world to change in a single day; that James Lee has made some new revelation of himself, which causes the wife’s heart to have misgivings, and with these misgivings comes the eager desire expressed in St. 3, to show her love, when he returns, more strongly than ever. 2. Look in my eyes! Wilt thou change too? Should I fear surprise? Shall I find aught new In the old and dear, In the good and true, With the changing year? 3. Thou art a man, But I am thy love. For the lake, its swan; For the dell, its dove; And for thee--(oh, haste!) Me, to bend above, Me, to hold embraced. II. By the Fireside. 1. Is all our fire of shipwreck wood, Oak and pine? Oh, for the ills half-understood, The dim dead woe Long ago Befallen this bitter coast of France! Well, poor sailors took their chance; I take mine. 2. A ruddy shaft our fire must shoot O’er the sea; Do sailors eye the casement--mute Drenched and stark, From their bark-- And envy, gnash their teeth for hate O’ the warm safe house and happy freight --Thee and me? 3. God help you, sailors, at your need! Spare the curse! For some ships, safe in port indeed, Rot and rust, Run to dust, All through worms i’ the wood, which crept, Gnawed our hearts out while we slept: That is worse. 4. Who lived here before us two? Old-world pairs. Did a woman ever--would I knew!-- Watch the man With whom began Love’s voyage full-sail,--(now, gnash your teeth!) When planks start, open hell beneath Unawares? III. In the Doorway. 1. The swallow has set her six young on the rail, And looks seaward: The water’s in stripes like a snake, olive-pale To the leeward,-- On the weather-side, black, spotted white with the wind. “Good fortune departs, and disaster’s behind”,-- Hark, the wind with its wants and its infinite wail! -- St. 1. Note the truth of color in vv. 3-5. 2.