My viol sank mute, my tongue stood still, I tried to sing on, but vain my will: I prayed she would guess of the later, and leave me; She stayed, as though, were she slain by the smart, She would bear love’s burn for a newer heart. The tense-drawn moment wrought to bereave me Of voice, and I turned in a dumb despair At her finding I’d come to another there. Sick I withdrew At love’s grim hue Ere my last Love knew; Sick I withdrew. From an old copy. THE WEDDING MORNING TABITHA dressed for her wedding:— “Tabby, why look so sad?” “—O I feel a great gloominess spreading, spreading, Instead of supremely glad! . . . “I called on Carry last night, And he came whilst I was there, Not knowing I’d called. So I kept out of sight, And I heard what he said to her: “‘—Ah, I’d far liefer marry _You_, Dear, to-morrow!’ he said, ‘But that cannot be.’—O I’d give him to Carry, And willingly see them wed, “But how can I do it when His baby will soon be born? After that I hope I may die. And then She can have him. I shall not mourn!” END OF THE YEAR 1912 YOU were here at his young beginning, You are not here at his agèd end; Off he coaxed you from Life’s mad spinning, Lest you should see his form extend Shivering, sighing, Slowly dying, And a tear on him expend. So it comes that we stand lonely In the star-lit avenue, Dropping broken lipwords only, For we hear no songs from you, Such as flew here For the new year Once, while six bells swung thereto. THE CHIMES PLAY “LIFE’S A BUMPER!” “AWAKE! I’m off to cities far away,” I said; and rose, on peradventures bent. The chimes played “Life’s a Bumper!” on that day To the measure of my walking as I went: Their sweetness frisked and floated on the lea, As they played out “Life’s a Bumper!” there to me. “Awake!” I said. “I go to take a bride!” —The sun arose behind me ruby-red As I journeyed townwards from the countryside, The chiming bells saluting near ahead. Their sweetness swelled in tripping tings of glee As they played out “Life’s a Bumper!” there to me. “Again arise.” I seek a turfy slope, And go forth slowly on an autumn noon, And there I lay her who has been my hope, And think, “O may I follow hither soon!” While on the wind the chimes come cheerily, Playing out “Life’s a Bumper!” there to me. 1913. “I WORKED NO WILE TO MEET YOU” (SONG) I WORKED no wile to meet you, My sight was set elsewhere, I sheered about to shun you, And lent your life no care. I was unprimed to greet you At such a date and place, Constraint alone had won you Vision of my strange face!