Page:The Collected Poems of Dora Sigerson Shorter.djvu/183



' on a gloomy afternoon When all the world was out of tune, And lover's lot amiss, When Chloe, waiting by the stream, Awoke from love's too pleasant dream, Of half Elysian bliss.

The cause, the same that shook the skies. And closed the gates of Paradise On one presumptuous soul. A jealous heart beat in her breast, And thrust her out from happiness, All weeping in her dole.

What stayed her lover's laggard feet? The trysting hour had gone too fleet She vowed him all untrue. Her frisking spaniel to her side She held, and would not be denied For all that he could do.

“Poor beast!” quoth she, “alas! I go To seek my death the waves below, Since love's a foolish dream. I shall not leave thee here alone, To make thy sad and piteous moan.” She flung him in the stream.