Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/902

 ROBERT BROWNING

729 Porphyria's Lover

VHE rain set early in to-night, The sullen wind was soon awake, It tore the elm-tops down for spite,

And did its worst to vex the lake.

I listen'd with heart fit to break. When glided in Porphyria, straight

She shut the cold out and the storm, And knecl'd and made the cheerless grate

Blaze up, and alhthe cottage warm;

Which done, she rose, and from her form Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,

And laid her soil'd gloves by, untied Her hat and let the damp hair fall,

And, last, she sat down by my side

And call'd me. When no voice replied, She put my arm about her waist,

And made her smooth white shoulder bare, And all her yellow hair displaced,

And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,

And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me she

Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour, To set its struggling passion free

From pride, and vainer ties dissever,

And give herself to me for ever. But passion sometimes would prevail,

Nor -could to-night's gay feast restrain A sudden thought of one so pale

For love of her, and all in vain: So, she was come through wind and rain.

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