THEWELL—BELOVED
　　IwayedbystarandplanetshineTowardsthedearone'shomeAtKingsbere，theretomakehermineWhenthenextsunupclomb。
　　IedgedtheancienthillandwoodBesidetheIklingWay，NighwherethePagantemplestoodIntheworld'searlierday。
　　AndasIquickandquickerwalkedOngravelandongreen，Isangtosky，andtree，ortalkedOfherIcalledmyqueen。
　　—"Ofaultlessisherdaintyform，Andluminoushermind;
　　SheistheGod—creatednormOfperfectwomankind！"
　　Ashapewhereononestar—blinkgleamedGlodesoftlybymyside，Awoman's;andhermotionseemedThemotionofmybride。
　　Andyetmethoughtshe'ddrawnerstwhileAdowntheancientleaze，WhereoncewerepileandperistyleFormen'sidolatries。
　　—"Omaidenlitheandlone，whatmayThynameandlineagebe，WhosoresemblestbythisrayMydarling？—Artthoushe？"
　　TheShape:"ThybrideremainswithinHerfather'sgrangeandgrove。"
　　—"Thouspeakestrightly，"Ibrokein，"ThouartnotsheIlove。"
　　—"Nay:thoughthybrideremainsinsideHerfather'swalls，"saidshe，"Theonemostdeariswiththeehere，Forthoudostlovebutme。"
　　ThenI:"Butshe，myonlychoice，IsnowatKingsbereGrove？"
　　Againhersoftmysteriousvoice:
　　"IamthyonlyLove。"
　　Thusstillshevouched，andstillIsaid，"Osprite，thatcannotbe！"
　　Itwasasifmybosombled，Somuchshetroubledme。
　　Thespriteresumed:"ThouhasttransferredToherdullformawhileMybeauty，fame，anddeed，andword，Mygesturesandmysmile。
　　"Ofatuousman，thistruthinfer，Bridesarenotwhattheyseem;
　　Thoulovestwhatthoudreamesther;
　　Iamthyverydream！"
　　—"Othen，"Iansweredmiserably，SpeakingasscarceIknew，"Mylovedone，ImustwedwiththeeIfwhatthousay'stbetrue！"
　　She，proudly，thinninginthegloom:
　　"Though，sincetroth—plightbegan，I'veeverstoodasbridetogroom，Iwednomortalman！"
　　ThereatshevanishedbytheCrossThat，enteringKingsberetown，Thetwolonglanesform，nearthefosseBelowthefanelessDown。
　　—WhenIarrivedandmetmybride，Herlookwaspinchedandthin，Asifhersoulhadshrunkanddied，Andleftawastewithin。
　　HERREPROACH
　　Conthedeadpageas'twerelivelove:presson！
　　Coldwisdom'swordswilleasethytrackforthee;
　　Aye，go;castoffsweetways，andleavemewanTobitingblaststhatareintentonme。
　　ButifthyobjectFame'sfarsummitsbe，Whoseinclinesmanyaskeletono'erliesThatmissedbothdreamandsubstance，stopandseeHowabsencewearsthesecheeksanddimstheseeyes！
　　ItsurelyisfarsweeterandmorewiseTowaterlove，thantoiltoleaveanonAnamewhoseglory—gleamwillbutadviseInvidiousmindstoquenchitwiththeirown，AndoverwhichthekindliestwillbutstayAmoment，musing，"He，too，hadhisday！"
　　WESTBOURNEPARKVILLAS，1867。
　　THEINCONSISTENT
　　Isay，"Shewasasgoodasfair，"
　　Whenstandingbyhermound;
　　"Suchpassingsweetness，"Ideclare，"Nolongertreadstheground。"
　　Isay，"WhatlivingLovecancatchHerbloomandbonhomie，AndwhatinnewermaidensmatchHeroldenwarmthtome！"
　　—Therestandswithinyonvestry—nookWherebondedloverssign，HernameuponafadedbookWithonethatisnotmine。
　　TohimshebreathedthetendervowSheoncehadbreathedtome，ButyetIsay，"Olove，evennowWouldIhaddiedforthee！"
　　ABROKENAPPOINTMENT
　　Youdidnotcome，AndmarchingTimedrewon，andworemenumb。
　　YetlessforlossofyourdearpresencethereThanthatIthusfoundlackinginyourmakeThathighcompassionwhichcanoverbearReluctanceforpurelovingkindness'sakeGrievedI，when，asthehope—hourstrokeditssum，Youdidnotcome。
　　Youlovenotme，Andlovealonecanlendyouloyalty;
　　—Iknowandknewit。But，untothestoreOfhumandeedsdivineinallbutname，WasitnotworthalittlehourormoreToaddyetthis:Once，you，awoman，cameTosootheatime—tornman;eventhoughitbeYoulovenotme？
　　"BETWEENUSNOW"
　　Betweenusnowandhere
　　TwothrowntogetherWhoarenotwonttowearLife'sflushestfeather
　　Whoseethescenesslidepast，Thedaytimesdimmingfast，Lettherebetruthatlast，Evenifdespair。
　　SothoroughlyandlongHaveyounowknownme，SorealinfaithandstrongHaveInowshownme，ThatnothingneedsdisguiseFurtherinanywise，OrasksorjustifiesAguardedtongue。
　　Faceuntoface，then，say，Eyesmineownmeeting，Isyourheartfaraway，Orwithminebeating？
　　Whenfalsethingsarebroughtlow，Andswiftthingshavegrownslow，Feigninglikefrothshallgo，Faithbeforaye。
　　"HOWGREATMYGRIEF"
　　（TRIOLET）
　　Howgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Sincefirstitwasmyfatetoknowthee！
　　—HavetheslowyearsnotbroughttoviewHowgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Normemoryshapedoldtimesanew，Norloving—kindnesshelpedtoshowtheeHowgreatmygrief，myjoyshowfew，Sincefirstitwasmyfatetoknowthee？
　　"INEEDNOTGO"
　　IneednotgoThroughsleetandsnowTowhereIknowShewaitsforme;
　　ShewillwaitmethereTillIfinditfair，AndhavetimetospareFromcompany。
　　WhenI'veovergotTheworldsomewhat，WhenthingscostnotSuchstressandstrain，IssoonenoughBycypresssoughTotellmyLoveIamcomeagain。
　　Andifsomeday，Whennonecriesnay，IstilldelayToseekherside，（ThoughamplemeasureOffittingleisureAwaitmypleasure）
　　Shewillriotchide。
　　What—notupbraidmeThatIdelayedme，NoraskwhatstayedmeSolong？Ah，no！
　　Newcaresmayclaimme，Newlovesinflameme，Shewillnotblameme，Butsufferitso。
　　THECOQUETTE，ANDAFTER
　　（TRIOLETS）
　　I
　　ForlongthecruelwishIknewThatyourfreeheartshouldacheformeWhilemineshouldbearnoacheforyou;
　　For，long—thecruelwish！—IknewHowmencanfeel，andcravedtoviewMytriumph—fatednottobeForlong！ThecruelwishIknewThatyourfreeheartshouldacheforme！
　　II
　　Atlastonepaysthepenalty
　　Thewoman—womenalwaysdo。
　　Myfarce，Ifound，wastragedyAtlast！—OnepaysthepenaltyWithinterestwhenone，fancy—free，Learnslove，learnsshameOfsinnerstwoAtlastONEpaysthepenalty
　　Thewoman—womenalwaysdo！
　　ASPOT
　　Inyearsdefacedandlost，Twosathere，transport—tossed，LitbyalivingloveThewiltedworldknewnothingof:
　　ScaredmomentlyBygaingivings，ThenhopingthingsThatcouldnotbe。
　　OfloveandusnotraceAbidesupontheplace;
　　Thesunandshadowswheel，Seasonandseasonserewardsteal;
　　FouldaysandfairHere，too，prevail，AndgustandgaleAseverywhere。
　　ButlonelyshepherdsoulsWhobaskamidtheseknollsMaycatchafaerysoundOnsleepynoontidesfromtheground:
　　"OnotagainTillEarthoutwearsShallloveliketheirsSuffusethisglen！"