For now all's changed, not Time's change more wondrous, I am her sun, and she (Herself doth swear) the moon; Or she the ship upon my sea.
How should this be? I know not; I so grossly Mastering her spirit pure. O, how can her bird's breast My nervous and harsh hand endure?
Tell me if this be love indeed, fond lovers, That high stoop to low, Soul be to flesh subdued; That the sun around the earth should go?
I know not: I but know that love is misery, O'erfilled with delight. Day follows night: her love Is gay as day, yet strange as night.
The rain beat on me as I walked, In the roadside it ran and muttered. It seemed the rain to the wind talked Of storm: in the wind the wild cloud fluttered.
Across the down, now bleak and loud, I went and the rain ran with me. How swift the rain, how low the cloud! No heavenly comfort could I see,
Nor comfort of low beaming light From any casement creeping out. The swift rain on the patient night Swept, and anon would great winds shout.
Rain, rain, nought else, until I turned The thrusting shoulder of the down, And through the mist of rain there burned The few green lanterns of the town.
And in the rain the night was lit With my love's eyes burning for me; Her white face in the dark was sweet, Her hands like moonflowers quiveringly
Fell upon mine, and each was dashed With rain blown in from streaming eaves, While overhead the broad flood plashed Noisily on the broad plane leaves.
Within we heard the gurgle-glock In the pipe, the tip-tap on the sill Like the same ticking of the clock; We heard the water-butt o'erspill,
The wind come blustering at the door, The whipped white lilac thrash the wall; The candle flame upon the floor Crept between shadows magical....
In the black east a pallid ray Rose high; and sweeping o'er the down The slow increase of stormless day Lit the wet roofs of Lambourn town.
The lamp shone golden where she slept, Shining against deep-folded shadows. There was no stir but her slow breathing Save when a long sigh crept Between her lips.
Her hair spread dark in that faint light, Her shut eyes showed the long dark lashes-- Still now, that with her laughter quivered. On the white sheet lay white And limp her hands.
Golden against the shadow shone The lamp's small flame, till dawn was brightening, And on the flame a gold beam slanted. The shadows lingering on Grew faint and thin.