Withinit，featuredevenindeathdine，Islyingadeadinfant，slainbythee。
　　NotsolelythattheFutureshedestroys，AndthefairlifewhichinthedistanceliesForallmen，beckoningoutfromdimrichskies：
　　Northatthepassinghour’ssupportingjoysHavelostthekeen-edgedflavour，whichbegatDistinctioninoldtimes，andstillshouldbreedSweetMemory，andHope，——earth’smodestseed，Andheaven’shigh-prompting：notthattheworldisflatSincethatsoft-luringcreatureIembracedAmongthechildrenofIllusionwent：
　　MethinkswithallthislossIwerecontent，IfthemadPast，onwhichmyfootisbased，Werefirm，ormightbeblotted：butthewholeOflifeismed：themockingPastwillstay：
　　AndifIdrinkoblionofaday，SoshortenIthestatureofmysoul。
　　’IplayforSeasons；notEternities!’
　　SaysNature，laughingonherway。’SomustAllthosewhosestakeisnothingmorethandust!’
　　Andlo，shewins，andofherharmoniesSheisfullsure!UponherdyingroseShedropsalookoffondness，andgoesby，Scarceanyretrospectioninhereye；
　　Forshethelawsofgrowthmostdeeplyknows，Whosehandsbear，here，aseed-bag——there，anurn。
　　Pledgedsheherselftoaught，’twouldmarkherend!
　　ThislessonofouronlysiblefriendCanwenotteachourfoolishheartstolearn？
　　Yes!yes!——but，oh，ourhumanroseisfairSurpassingly!LosecalmlyLove’sgreatbliss，WhentherenewedforeverofakissWhirlslifewithintheshowerofloosenedhair!
　　WhatsoulwouldbargainforacurethatbringsContemptthenobleragonytokill？
　　Ratherletmebearonthebitterill，Andstrikethisrustybosomwithnewstings!
　　Itseemsthereisanotherveeringfit，Sinceonagold-hairedlady’seyeballspureIlookedwithlittleprospectofacure，Thewhilehermouth’sredbowloosedshaftsofwit。
　　Justheaven!canitbetruethatjealousyHasdeckedthewomanthus？anddoesherheadSwimsomewhatforpossessionsforfeited？
　　Madam，youteachmemanythingsthatbe。
　　Iopenanoldbook，andthereIfindThat’Womenstillmaylovewhomtheydecee。’
　　SuchloveIprizenot，madam：byyourleave，Thegameyouplayatisnottomymind。
　　Ithinkshesleeps：itmustbesleep，whenlowHangsthatabandonedarmtowardthefloor；
　　Thefaceturnedwithit。Nowmakefastthedoor。
　　Sleepon：itisyourhusband，notyourfoe。
　　ThePoet’sblackstage-lionofwrongedloveFrightsnotourmoderndames：-wellifhedid!
　　NowwillIpournewlightuponthatlid，Full-slopinglikethebreastsbeneath。’Sweetdove，Yoursleepispure。Nay，pardon：Idisturb。
　　Idonot？good!’Herwakinginfant-stareGrowswomantotheburdenmyhandsbear：
　　HerownhandwritingtomewhennocurbWasleftonPassion’stongue。Shetremblesthrough；
　　Awoman’stremble——thewholeinstrument：-
　　Ishowanotherletterlatelysent。
　　Thewordsareverylike：thenameisnew。I
　　ouroldshipwreckeddaystherewasanhour，Wheninthefirelightsteadilyaglow，Joinedslackly，webeheldtheredchasmgrowAmongtheclickingcoals。Ourlibrary-bowerThatevewaslefttous：andhushedwesatAsloverstowhomTimeiswhispering。
　　Fromsudden-openeddoorsweheardthemsing：
　　Thenoddingeldersmedgoodwinewithchat。
　　WellknewwethatLife’sgreatesttreasurelayWithus，andofitwasourtalk。’Ah，yes!
　　Lovedies!’Isaid：Ineverthoughtitless。
　　Sheyearnedtomethatsentencetounsay。
　　Thenwhenthefiredomedblackening，IfoundHercheekwassaltagainstmykiss，andswiftUpthesharpscaleofsobsherbreastdidlift：-
　　NowamIhauntedbythattaste!thatsound!
　　Atdinner，sheishostess，Iamhost。
　　Wentthefeastevercheerfuller？ShekeepsTheTopicoverintellectualdeepsInbuoyancyafloat。Theyseenoghost。
　　Withsparklingsurface-eyesweplytheball：
　　Itisintruthamostcontagiousgame：
　　HIDINGTHESKELETON，shallbeitsname。
　　Suchplayasthisthedelsmightappal!
　　Buthere’sthegreaterwonder；inthatwe，Enamouredofanactingnoughtcantire，Eachother，liketruehypocrites，admire；
　　Warm-lightedlooks，Love’sephemerioe，Shootgailyo’erthedishesandthewine。
　　Wewakenenvyofourhappylot。
　　Fast，sweet，andgolden，showsthemarriage-knot。
　　Dearguests，younowhaveseenLove’scorpse-lightshine。
　　HereJackandTomarepairedwithMollandMeg。
　　Curvedopentotherer-reachisseenAcountrymerry-makingonthegreen。
　　Fairspaceforsignalshakingsoftheleg。
　　Thatlittlescrewyfiddlerfromhisbooth，Whenceflowsonenut-brownstream，commandsthejointsOfallwhocaperhereatvariouspoints。
　　Ihaveknownrusticrevelsinmyyouth：
　　TheMay-flypleasuresofamindatease。
　　Anearlygoddesswasacountrylass：
　　AcharmedAmphion-oakshetrippedthegrass。
　　WhatlifewasthatIled？Thelifeofthese？
　　Heavenkeepthemhappy!Naturetheyseemnear。
　　Theymust，Ithink，bewiserthanIam；
　　Theyhavethesecretofthebullandlamb。
　　’Tistruethatwhenwetraceitssource，’tisbeer。
　　Nostateisenable。TotheluckaloneOfsomefewfavouredmenIwouldputclaim。
　　Ibleed，butherwhowoundsIwillnotblame。
　　HaveInotfeltherheartas’tweremyownBeatthro’me？couldIhurther？heavenandhell!
　　ButIcouldhurthercruelly!CanIletMyLove’soldtime-piecetoanotherset，Swearitcan’tstop，andmustforeverswell？
　　Sure，that’sonewayLovedriftsintothemartWheregoat-leggedbuyersthrong。Iseenotplain：-
　　Mymeaningis，itmustnotbeagain。
　　GreatGod!themaddestgamblerthrowshisheart。
　　Ifanystatebeenableonearth，’Tisyonbornidiot’s，who，asdaysgoby，Stillrubshishandsbeforehim，likeafly，Inaqueersortofmeditatemirth。
　　IamnotofthosemiserablemalesWhosniffatceand，daringnottosnap，Dothereforehopeforheaven。ItakethehapOfallmydeeds。ThewindthatfillsmysailsPropels；butIamhelmsman。AmIwrecked，IknowthedelhassufficientweightTobear：Ilayitnotonhim，orfate。
　　Besides，he’sdamned。ThatmanIdosuspectAcoward，whowouldburdenthepoordeuceWithwhatensuesfromhisownslipperiness。
　　Ihavejustfoundawanton-scentedtressInanolddesk，dustyforlackofuse。
　　Ofdaysandnightsitisdemonstrate，That，likesomeagedstar，gleamluridly。
　　IfforthosetimesImustaskcharity，HaveInotanycharitytoge？
　　Wethreeareonthecedar-shadowedlawn；
　　Myfriendbeingthird。HewhoatloveoncelaughedIsintheweakribbyafatalshaftStruckthrough，andtellshispassion’sbashfuldawnAndradiantculmination，gloriouscrown，When’this’shesaid：went’thus’：mostwondrousshe。
　　Oureyesgrowwhite，encountering：thatwearethree，Forgetful；thentogetherwelookdown。
　　Buthedemandsourblessing；isconncedThatwordsofweddedloversmustbringgood。
　　Wequestion；ifwedare!orifweshould!
　　Andpathim，withlightlaugh。Wehavenotwinced。
　　Next，shehasfallen。FaintingpointsthesignTohappythingsinwedlock。Whenshewakes，Shelooksthestarthatthro’thecedarshakes：
　　Herlostmoisthandclingsmortallytomine。
　　Whatmaythewomanlabourtoconfess？
　　Thereisabouthermouthanervoustwitch。
　　’Tissomethingtobetold，orhidden：-which？
　　Igetaglimpseofhellinthismildguess。
　　Shehasdesiresoftouch，asiftofeelThatallthehouseholdthingsarethingssheknew。
　　Shestopsbeforetheglass。Whatsightinew？
　　Afacethatseemsthelatesttoreveal!
　　Forsheturnsfromithastily，andtossedIrresolutestealsshadow-liketowhereIstand；andwaveringpalebeforemethere，Hertearsfallstillasoak-leavesafterfrost。
　　Shewillnotspeak。Iwillnotask。WeareLeague-sunderedbythesilentgulfbetween。
　　Youburlyloversonthellagegreen，Yoursisalower，andahappierstar!
　　’TisChristmasweather，andacountryhouseReceesus：roomsarefull：wecanbutgetAnattic-crib。SuchloverswillnotfretAtthat，itishalf-said。ThegreatcarouseKnocksharduponthemidnight’shollowdoor，ButwhenIknockathers，Iseethepit。
　　WhydidIcomehereinthatdullardfit？
　　Ienter，andliecoucheduponthefloor。
　　Passing，Icaughtthecoverlet’squickbeat：-
　　Come，Shame，burntomysoul!andPride，andPain-
　　Fouldemonsthathavetorturedme，enchain!
　　Outinthefreezingdarknessthelambsbleat。
　　Thesmallbirdstiffensinthelowstarlight。
　　Iknownothow，butshudderingasIslept，Idreamedabanishedangeltomecrept：
　　Myfeetwerenourishedonherbreastsallnight。
　　Themiseryisgreater，asIle!
　　Toknowherfleshsopure，sokeenhersense，Thatshedoespenancenowfornooffence，SaveagainstLove。ThelesscanIforge!
　　ThelesscanIforge，thoughIadoreThatcruellovelypallorwhichsurroundsHerfootsteps；andthelowbratingsoundsThatcomeonme，asfromamagicshore。
　　Lowarethey，butmostsubtletofindoutTheshrinkingsoul。Madam，’tisunderstoodWhenwomenplayupontheirwomanhood，Itmeans，aSeasongone。AndyetIdoubtButIamduped。Thatnun-likelookwaylaysMyfancy。Oh!Idobutwaitasign!
　　Pluckouttheeyesofpride!thymouthtomine!
　　Never!thoughIdiethirsting。Gothyways!
　　YoulikenotthatFrenchnovel？Tellmewhy。
　　Youthinkitquiteunnatural。Letussee。
　　Theactorsare，itseems，theusualthree：
　　Husband，andwife，andlover。She——butfie!
　　InEnglandwe’llnothearofit。Edmond，Thelover，herdevoutchagrindothshare；
　　Blanc-mangeandabsinthearehispenitentfare，Tillhispaleaspectmakesherover-fond：
　　So，toprecludefreshsin，hetriesrosbif。
　　Meantimethehusbandisnomoreabused：
　　Augusteforgeshererethetearisused。
　　ThenhangethallononetremendousIF：-
　　IFshewillchoosebetweenthem。Shedoeschoose；
　　Andtakesherhusband，likeaproperwife。
　　Unnatural？Mydear，thesethingsarelife：
　　Andlife，somethink，isworthyoftheMuse。
　　Loveerehebleeds，aneagleinhighskies，Hasearthbeneathhiswings：fromreddenedeveHeewstherosydawn。InvaintheyweaveThefatalwebbelowwhilefarheflies。