Thomas R. Lounsbury, ed. (1838–1915). Yale Book of American Verse. 1912.
James Russell Lowell 18191891
James Russell Lowell133 Without and Within
M
Looks through the side light of the door;
I hear him with his brethren swear,
As I could do,—but only more.
He envies me my brilliant lot, Breathes on his aching fists in vain, And dooms me to a place more hot. A silken wonder by my side. Bare arms, bare shoulders, and a row Of flounces, for the door too wide. ’Neath its white-gloved and jewelled load; And wishes me some dreadful harm, Hearing the merry corks explode. Of hunting still the same old coon, And envy him, outside the door, In golden quiets of the moon. As the bright smile he sees me win, Nor the host’s oldest wine so old As our poor gabble sour and thin. With which his freezing feet he warms, And drag my lady’s-chains and dance The galley-slave of dreary forms. And I his quiet!—past a doubt ’T would still be one man bored within, And just another bored without. Some idler on my headstone grim Traces the moss-blurred name, will he Think me the happier, or I him?