DRAMATIS PERSONÆ

JAMES LEE'S WIFE

I. James Lee's Wife speaks at the Window
AH, Love, but a day

And the world has changed!

The sun 's away,

And the bird estranged;
The wind has dropped,
And the sky's deranged:
Summer has stopped.

Look in my eyes!

Wilt thou change too?
Should I fear surprise?
Shall I find aught new
In the old and dear,

In the good and true,
With the changing year?

Thou art a man,

But I am thy love.

For the lake, its swan;
For the dell, its dove;
And for thee (oh, haste!)
Me, to bend above,
Me, to hold embraced.

VOL. II

I

B

II. By the Fireside

IS all our fire of shipwreck wood,

Oak and pine?

Oh, for the ills half-understood,
The dim dead woe

Long ago

Befallen this bitter coast of France!
Well, poor sailors took their chance;
I take mine.

A ruddy shaft our fire must shoot
O'er the sea:

Do sailors eye the casement-mute,
Drenched and stark,

From their bark

And envy, gnash their teeth for hate
O' the warm safe house and happy freight
-Thee and me?

God help you, sailors, at your need!
Spare the curse!

For some ships, safe in port indeed,

Rot and rust,

Run to dust,

All through worms i' the wood, which crept, Gnawed our hearts out while we slept: That is worse.

Who lived here before us two?
Old-world pairs.

Did a woman ever-would I knew!-
Watch the man

With whom began

Love's voyage full-sail,-(now, gnash your

teeth!)

When planks start, open hell beneath
Unawares?