Classic Poem

XI

But still he held himself aloof
From every friendly neighbour's roof,
Nor chatted in the village;
The farmers called him proud, for he
Could little in their children see
But imps brought up to pillage.

XII

At harvest-home and country dance
He gave the beauties just a glance,
The calmest of beholders;
The lasses failed his pulse to move:
Then suddenly he fell in love
Right over head and shoulders.

XIII

He went to buy a dog one day
At Inglesham, and on the way
A sudden snowstorm caught him;
His path he lost; at length a lane
Down which the north wind swept amain
Straight into Lechlade brought him.

XIV

Within the parlour of the inn,
Snug from the driving frost and din,
He sipped his gin-and-water,
When like a well-tuned instrument,
Close by him, singing, Mary went,
The landlord's rosy daughter.

XV

Her voice, before he caught her face,
Bewitched him with its joyous grace,
But when he saw her features,
Like any running hare shot dead
His heart leapt suddenly, and his head
Was like a swooning creature's.

XVI

He rose and stood, or tried to stand,
He clutched the table with his hand,
Until she went out, singing;
Then, sitting down, and calm again,
He felt a kind of quiet pain
Thro' all his pulses ringing.

XVII

At first he scarcely knew that this
Strange ache made up of grief and bliss
Was love, his fancy thronging;
For Mary's image night and day
From his tired eyelids would not stray,
But wore him out with longing.

XVIII

And all that winter and that spring
The very least excuse would bring
His steps to Mary's presence;
He'd sit for hours and try to smile,
Yet look as grim and dark the while
As any judge at sessions.

XIX

But Mary with her cheerful eyes,
Like hearts-ease where a dewdrop lies,
And lips like warm carnations,
Laughed, bridling up her sunny head,
When jokes and sly remarks were made
By neighbours and relations.

XX

So things went on till limes in June
Dropped honey-dust, and all in tune
The elm-trees rang with thrushes;
'Tis sweet, when, fed by showers of May,
Through lily-leaves and flowers that sway,
The brimming river flushes.