Denzil place a story in verse. By Violet Fane [i.e. M. M. Lamb] |
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| I. |
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| II. |
| III. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| II. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
 | Denzil place |  |
“And are not lack of candour and deceit,”
Constance exclaim'd, “two things to be abhorred?
“And dwelling underneath a shelt'ring roof
“Respected, when you have not earn'd respect,
“And living as a wife with one you wrong—
“Next him at night, and near him all the day,
“And longing all those nights and all those days
“For but one glimpse of one sad absent face,
“Are these not also things to be abhorred?
“Methinks I could return to Farleigh Court,
“If I might hide away amongst the woods,
“And pray, and read good books, and nurse a skull
“Like yon sweet picture of the Magdalen—
“But to go back to him who knows my fault,
“And screens me out of kindness from the scorn
“Our country neighbours would but be too glad
“To show'r upon me! They must guess the truth,—
“From what the sister of my husband said
“They even knew it long before myself—
“I know not which would be the worst to bear,
“My husband's kind forbearance, or the sneers
“Of those who, whilst they flatter'd to my face
“Would whisper cruel words behind my back—
“And then I never could see Geoffrey more—
“It will be hard to bear!”
Constance exclaim'd, “two things to be abhorred?
“And dwelling underneath a shelt'ring roof
“Respected, when you have not earn'd respect,
“And living as a wife with one you wrong—
“Next him at night, and near him all the day,
“And longing all those nights and all those days
“For but one glimpse of one sad absent face,
196
“Methinks I could return to Farleigh Court,
“If I might hide away amongst the woods,
“And pray, and read good books, and nurse a skull
“Like yon sweet picture of the Magdalen—
“But to go back to him who knows my fault,
“And screens me out of kindness from the scorn
“Our country neighbours would but be too glad
“To show'r upon me! They must guess the truth,—
“From what the sister of my husband said
“They even knew it long before myself—
“I know not which would be the worst to bear,
“My husband's kind forbearance, or the sneers
“Of those who, whilst they flatter'd to my face
“Would whisper cruel words behind my back—
“And then I never could see Geoffrey more—
“It will be hard to bear!”
Now this was how
It came to pass that Constance dream'd at all
Of leaving Italy and going home.
It came to pass that Constance dream'd at all
Of leaving Italy and going home.
| Denzil place | |