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！