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Home  »  The Oxford Book of English Verse  »  557. The Maid’s Lament

Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.

Walter Savage Landor. 1775–1864

557. The Maid’s Lament

I LOVED him not; and yet now he is gone, 
        I feel I am alone. 
I check’d him while he spoke; yet, could he speak, 
        Alas! I would not check. 
For reasons not to love him once I sought,         5
        And wearied all my thought 
To vex myself and him; I now would give 
        My love, could he but live 
Who lately lived for me, and when he found 
        ‘Twas vain, in holy ground  10
He hid his face amid the shades of death. 
        I waste for him my breath 
Who wasted his for me; but mine returns, 
        And this lorn bosom burns 
With stifling heat, heaving it up in sleep,  15
        And waking me to weep 
Tears that had melted his soft heart: for years 
        Wept he as bitter tears. 
‘Merciful God!’ such was his latest prayer, 
        ‘These may she never share!’  20
Quieter is his breath, his breast more cold 
        Than daisies in the mould, 
Where children spell, athwart the churchyard gate, 
        His name and life’s brief date. 
Pray for him, gentle souls, whoe’er you be,  25
        And, O, pray too for me!