Page:Late lyrics and earlier, with many other verses (IA latelyricsearlie00hardiala).pdf/181

Rh I was broken; so pallid of face that they thought I should faint, they said. I rallied. “O, rather than go, I will play you for nothing!" said I. 'Twas in much desperation I spoke it, for bring me to forfeit I could not Those melodies chorded so richly for which I had laboured and lived. They paused. And for nothing I played at the chapel through Sundays anon, Upheld by that art which I loved more than blandishments lavished of men.

But it fell that murmurs again from the flock broke the pastor's peace. Some member had seen me at Havenpool, comrading close a sea-captain, (Yes; I was thereto constrained, lacking means for the fare to and fro.) Yet God knows, if aught He knows ever, I loved the Old-Hundredth, Saint Stephen's, Mount Zion, New Sabbath, Miles-Lane, Holy Rest, and Arabia, and Eaton, Above all embraces of body by wooers who sought me and won! . . . Next week 'twas declared I was seen coming home with a lover at dawn.