Page:Wessex poems and other verses (IA wessexpoemsother00hard).pdf/120

 Scarce had night the sun's gold touch displaced From the vast Rotund and the neighboring dead When her husband followed; bowed; halfpassed, With lip upcast; Then, halting, sullenly said:

"It is noised that you visit my first wife's tomb. Now, I gave her an honored name to bear While living, when dead. So I've claim to ask By what right you task My patience by vigiling there?

"There's decency even in death, I assume; Preserve it, sir, and keep away; For the mother of my first-born you Show mind undue! —Sir, I've nothing more to say."

A desperate stroke discerned I then— God pardon—or pardon not—the lie;