ARCHITECTURALMASKS
　　I
　　Thereisahousewithiviedwalls，Andmullionedwindowswornandold，AndthelongdwellersinthosehallsHavesoulsthatknowbutsordidcalls，Anddailydoteongold。
　　II
　　InblazingbrickandplatedshowNotfarawaya"villa"gleams，Andhereafamilyfewmayknow，Withbookandpencil，violandbow，Leadinnerlivesofdreams。
　　III
　　Thephilosophicpasserssay，"Seethatoldmansionmossedandfair，Poeticsoulsthereinarethey:
　　AndOthatgaudybox！Away，Youvulgarpeoplethere。"
　　THETENANT—FOR—LIFE
　　Thesunsaid，watchingmywatering—pot"Somemornyou'llpassaway;
　　TheseflowersandplantsIparchuphot
　　Who'llwaterthemthatday？
　　"ThosebanksandbedswhoseshapeyoureyeHasplannedinlinesotrue，Newhandswillchange，unreasoningwhySuchshapeseemedbesttoyou。
　　"Withinyourhousewillstrangerssit，Andwonderhowfirstitcame;
　　They'lltalkoftheirschemesforimprovingit，Andwillnotmentionyourname。
　　"They'llcarenothow，orwhen，oratwhatYousighed，laughed，sufferedhere，ThoughyoufeelmoreinanhourofthespotThantheywillfeelinayear"AsIlookonatyouhere，now，ShallIlookonatthese;
　　Butastoouroldtimes，avowNoknowledge—holdmypeace！
　　"Ofriend，itmattersnot，Isay;
　　Bethinkye，IhaveshinedOnnobleronesthanyou，andtheyAredeadmenoutofmind！"
　　THEKING'SEXPERIMENT
　　Itwasawetwanhourinspring，AndNaturemetKingDoombesidealane，WhereinHodgetrudged，allblithelyballadingTheMother'ssmilingreign。
　　"WhywarbleshethatskiesarefairAndcoombsalight，"shecried，"andfallowsgay，WhenIhaveplacednosunshineintheairOrglowonearthto—day？"
　　"'TisinthecomedyofthingsThatsuchshouldbe，"returnedtheoneofDoom;
　　"Chargenowthescenewithbrightestblazonings，Andheshallcallthemgloom。"
　　Shegavetheword:thesunoutbroke，AllFroomsideshone，thehedgebirdsraisedasong;
　　AndlaterHodge，uponthemiddaystroke，Returnedthelanealong，Lowmurmuring:"Othisbitterscene，Andthriceaccursthorizonhungwithgloom！
　　Howdeadlylikethissky，thesefields，thesetreen，Totrappingsofthetomb！"
　　TheBeldamethen:"Thefoolandblind！
　　Suchmadperversenesswhomayapprehend？"
　　"Nay;there'snomadnessinit;thoushaltfindThylawthere，"saidherfriend。
　　"WhenHodgewentforth'twastohisLove，Tomakeher，erethiseve，hisweddedprize，AndEarth，despitetheheavinessabove，WasbrightasParadise。
　　"ButIsentonmymessenger，Withcunningarrowspoisonousandkeen，Totakeforthwithherlaughinglifefromher，Anddullherlittleeen，"Andwhitehercheek，andstillherbreath，ErehertoobuoyantHodgehadreachedherside;
　　So，whenhecame，heclaspedherbutindeath，Andneverashisbride。
　　"Andthere'sthehumour，asIsaid;
　　Thydrearydawnhesawasgleaminggold，AndinthyglisteninggreenandradiantredFunerealgloomandcold。"
　　THETREE
　　ANOLDMAN'SSTORY
　　I
　　ItsrootsarebristlingintheairLikesomemadEarth—god'sspinyhair;
　　Theloudsouth—wester'sswellandyellSmoteitatmidnight，anditfell。
　　ThusendsthetreeWhereSomeOnesatwithme。
　　II
　　Itsboughs，whichnonebutdarerstrod，Achildmaysteponfromthesod，AndtwigsthatearliestmetthedawnArelitthelastuponthelawn。
　　CartoffthetreeBeneathwhosetrunksatwe！
　　III
　　Yes，therewesat:shecooedcontent，Andbatsringedround，anddaylightwent;
　　Thegnarl，ourseat，iswrenchedandsunk，PronethatqueerpocketinthetrunkWherelaythekeyToherpalemystery。
　　IV
　　"Yearsback，withinthispocket—holeIfound，myLove，ahurriedscrawlMeantnotforme，"atlengthsaidI;
　　"Iglancedthereat，andletitlie:
　　Thewordswerethree
　　'Beloved，Iagree。'
　　V
　　"Whoplacedithere;towhatrequestItgaveassent，Ineverguessed。
　　Someprayerofsomehotheart，nodoubt，Tosomecoymaidenhereabout，Justas，maybe，Withyou，SweetHeart，andme。"
　　VI
　　Shewaited，tillwithquickenedbreathShespoke，asonewhobanishethReservesthatlovecraftheedssowell，Toeasesomemightywishtotell:
　　"'TwasI，"saidshe，"Whowrotethusclinchingly。
　　VII
　　"Mylover'swife—aye，wife！—knewnoughtOfwhatwefelt，andbore，andthought
　　He'dsaid:'Iwedwiththeeordie:
　　Shestandsbetween，'tistrue。Butwhy？
　　Dothouagree，And—sheshaltceasetobe。'
　　VIII
　　"HowIheldback，howlovesupremeInvolvedmemadlyinhisschemeWhyshouldIsay？Iwroteassent（Youfoundithid）tohisintent
　　She—DIEDButheCamenottowedwithme。
　　IX
　　"Oshrinknot，Love！—HadtheseeyesseenButoncethineown，suchhadnotbeen！
　　ButwewerestrangersThustheplotClearedpassion'spath。—WhycamehenotTowedwithme？
　　Hewivedthegibbet—tree。"
　　X
　　—UnderthatoakofheretoforeSatSweetheartminewithmenomore:
　　BymanyaFiord，andStrom，andFleuveHaveIsincewanderedSoon，forlove，Distraughtwentshe
　　'Twassaidforloveofme。
　　HERLATEHUSBAND
　　（KING'S—HINTOCK，182—。）
　　"No—notwhereIshallmakemyown;
　　ButdighisgravejustbyThewoman'swiththeinitialedstone
　　Asnearashecanlie
　　Afterwhosedeathheseemedtoail，Thoughnoneconsideredwhy。
　　"AndwhenIalsoclaimanook，Andyourfeettreadmein，Bestowme，undermyoldname，Amongmykithandkin，ThatstrangersgazingmaynotdreamIdidahusbandwin。"
　　"Widow，yourwishshallbeobeyed;
　　Though，thoughtI，certainlyYou'dlayhimwhereyourfolkarelaid，Andyourgrave，too，willbe，Ascustomhathit;youtoright，Andonthelefthandhe。"
　　"Aye，sexton;suchtheHintockrule，Andnonehassaiditnay;
　　ButnowithapsanativehereEschewsthatancientway
　　Anditmaybe，someChristmasnight，Whenangelswalk，they'llsay:
　　"'Ostrangeinterment！CivilizedlandsAffordfewtypesthereof;
　　HereisamanwhotakeshisrestBesidehisveryLove，BesidetheonewhowashiswifeInoursightupabove！'"
　　THESELF—UNSEEING
　　Hereistheancientfloor，Footwornandhollowedandthin，HerewastheformerdoorWherethedeadfeetwalkedin。
　　Shesathereinherchair，Smilingintothefire;
　　Hewhoplayedstoodthere，Bowingithigherandhigher。
　　Childlike，Idancedinadream;
　　BlessingsemblazonedthatdayEverythingglowedwithagleam;
　　Yetwewerelookingaway！