Thomas Hardy (1840–1928). Wessex Poems and Other Verses. 1898.
22. The Burghers
T
And still I mused on that Thing imminent:
At length I sought the High-street to the West.
And my wrecked face, and shaped my nearing friend
Like one of those the Furnace held unshent.
They fly to-night at the late moon’s first gleam:
Watch with thy steel: two righteous thrusts will end
I’ll watch with thee, to testify thy wrong—
To aid, maybe—Law consecrates the scheme.”
Till I replied: “Since it has come to this
I’ll do it! But alone. I can be strong.”
Reigned sole, undulled by whirr of merchandise,
From Pummery-Tout to where the Gibbet is,
And stood beneath the wall. Eleven strokes went,
And to the door they came, contrariwise,
My lifted blade upon them to have let
Their two souls loose upon the firmament.
As pray-time ere you wantons die!” I said;
And then they saw me. Swift her gaze was set
Upon her Heart-king. Never upon me
Had she thrown look of love so thorough-sped!…
On his, against the vengeance of my vows;
The which o’erruling, her shape shielded he.
And the slow moon edged from the upland nigh,
My sad thoughts moving thuswise: “I may house
But licensed tyrant to this bonded pair?
Says Charity, Do as ye would be done by.”…
I bade them stay. And, as if brain and breast
Were passive, they walked with me to the stair.
Before a mirror, in whose gleam I read
Her beauty, his,—and mine own mien unblest;
“Have you the wherewithal for this? Pray speak.
Love fills no cupboard. You’ll need daily bread.”
’Twere base in me to rob my lord unware;
Our hands will earn a pittance week by week.”
Within the garde-robes, and her household purse,
Her jewels, and least lace of personal wear;
I handed her the gold, her jewells all,
And him the choicest of her robes diverse.
And then adieu,” I to them. “Friends, withdraw.”
They did so; and she went—beyond recall.
Their moonlit figures—slow, as in surprise—
Descend the slope, and vanish on the haw.
Save God alone, to weigh my reasons why?”
—“Hast thou struck home?” came with the boughs’ night-sighs.
But carry wounds that none can cicatrize.”
—“Not mortal?” said he. “Lingering—worse,” said I.