Thinking of William. So those four abode Within one house together; and as years Went forward, Mary took another mate; But Dora lived unmarried till her death. AUDLEY COURT. 'THE Bull, the Fleece are cramm'd, and not a room For love or money. Let us picnic there At Audley Court.' I spoke, while Audley feast Humm'd like a hive all round the narrow quay, To Francis, with a basket on his arm, To Francis just alighted from the boat, And breathing of the sea. Said Francis. swarm, 'With all my heart,' Then we shoulder'd thro' the And rounded by the stillness of the beach We left the dying ebb that faintly lipp'd The flat red granite; so by many a sweep Of meadow smooth from aftermath we reach'd There, on a slope of orchard, Francis laid A damask napkin wrought with horse and hound, Prime, which I knew; and so we sat and eat This season; glancing thence, discuss'd the farm, The four-field system, and the price of grain; And struck upon the corn-laws, where we split, With heated faces; till he laugh'd aloud; To hear him, clapt his hand in mine and sang— 'Oh! who would fight and march and counter march, Be shot for sixpence in a battle-field, And shovell'd up into some bloody trench Where no one knows? but let me live my life. 'Oh! who would cast and balance at a desk, Perch'd like a crow upon a three-legg'd stool, Till all his juice is dried, and all his joints Are full of chalk? but let me live my life. 'Who'd serve the state? for if I carved my name Upon the cliffs that guard my native land, I might as well have traced it in the sands; The sea wastes all: but let me live my life. 'Oh! who would love? I woo'd a woman once, But she was sharper than an eastern wind, And all my heart turn'd from her, as a thorn Knock'd down to me, when old Sir Robert's pride, 'Sleep, Ellen Aubrey, sleep, and dream of me : Sleep, Ellen, folded in thy sister's arm, And sleeping, haply dream her arm is mine. 'Sleep, Ellen, folded in Emilia's arm; Emilia, fairer than all else but thou, For thou art fairer than all else that is. Sleep, breathing health and peace upon her breast: Sleep, breathing love and trust against her lip : I go to-night I come to-morrow morn. : |