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      The Burghers

       Table of Contents

      (17–)

      The sun had wheeled from Grey’s to Dammer’s Crest,

       And still I mused on that Thing imminent:

       At length I sought the High-street to the West.

      The level flare raked pane and pediment

       And my wrecked face, and shaped my nearing friend

       Like one of those the Furnace held unshent.

      “I’ve news concerning her,” he said. “Attend.

       They fly to-night at the late moon’s first gleam:

       Watch with thy steel: two righteous thrusts will end

      Her shameless visions and his passioned dream.

       I’ll watch with thee, to testify thy wrong—

       To aid, maybe.—Law consecrates the scheme.”

      I started, and we paced the flags along

       Till I replied: “Since it has come to this

       I’ll do it! But alone. I can be strong.”

      Three hours past Curfew, when the Froom’s mild hiss

       Reigned sole, undulled by whirr of merchandize,

       From Pummery-Tout to where the Gibbet is,

      I crossed my pleasaunce hard by Glyd’path Rise,

       And stood beneath the wall. Eleven strokes went,

       And to the door they came, contrariwise,

      And met in clasp so close I had but bent

       My lifted blade upon them to have let

       Their two souls loose upon the firmament.

      But something held my arm. “A moment yet

       As pray-time ere you wantons die!” I said;

       And then they saw me. Swift her gaze was set

      With eye and cry of love illimited

       Upon her Heart-king. Never upon me

       Had she thrown look of love so thorough-sped! . . .

      At once she flung her faint form shieldingly

       On his, against the vengeance of my vows;

       The which o’erruling, her shape shielded he.

      Blanked by such love, I stood as in a drowse,

       And the slow moon edged from the upland nigh,

       My sad thoughts moving thuswise: “I may house

      And I may husband her, yet what am I

       But licensed tyrant to this bonded pair?

       Says Charity, Do as ye would be done by.” . . .

      Hurling my iron to the bushes there,

       I bade them stay. And, as if brain and breast

       Were passive, they walked with me to the stair.

      Inside the house none watched; and on we prest

       Before a mirror, in whose gleam I read

       Her beauty, his,—and mine own mien unblest;

      Till at her room I turned. “Madam,” I said,

       “Have you the wherewithal for this? Pray speak.

       Love fills no cupboard. You’ll need daily bread.”

      “We’ve nothing, sire,” said she; “and nothing seek.

       ’Twere base in me to rob my lord unware;

       Our hands will earn a pittance week by week.”

      And next I saw she’d piled her raiment rare

       Within the garde-robes, and her household purse,

       Her jewels, and least lace of personal wear;

      And stood in homespun. Now grown wholly hers,

       I handed her the gold, her jewels all,

       And him the choicest of her robes diverse.

      “I’ll take you to the doorway in the wall,

       And then adieu,” I to them. “Friends, withdraw.”

       They did so; and she went—beyond recall.

      And as I paused beneath the arch I saw

       Their moonlit figures—slow, as in surprise—

       Descend the slope, and vanish on the haw.

      “‘Fool,’ some will say,” I thought. “But who is wise,

       Save God alone, to weigh my reasons why?”

       —“Hast thou struck home?” came with the boughs’ night-sighs.

      It was my friend. “I have struck well. They fly,

       But carry wounds that none can cicatrize.”

       —“Not mortal?” said he. “Lingering—worse,” said I.