 | Idyls of Norway and other poems |  |
99
AN EVERY-DAY TRAGEDY.
He sat in honor's seat,
And rapturous ladies gazed into his eyes.
She stood without, beneath the wintry skies,
In snow and sleet.
And rapturous ladies gazed into his eyes.
She stood without, beneath the wintry skies,
In snow and sleet.
He spoke of Faith's decay;
The ladies sighed because he spoke so true.
She hid her face in hands frost-numbed and blue,
But dared not pray.
The ladies sighed because he spoke so true.
She hid her face in hands frost-numbed and blue,
But dared not pray.
In church, in court, and street,
Men bowed and ladies smiled where'er he went.
She stole through life, by shame and hunger bent,
With bleeding feet.
Men bowed and ladies smiled where'er he went.
She stole through life, by shame and hunger bent,
With bleeding feet.
Upon his wedding-day
She stood, with burning eyes that fain would weep,
And heard the dancers' tread, the music's sweep,
Sound far away.
She stood, with burning eyes that fain would weep,
And heard the dancers' tread, the music's sweep,
Sound far away.
100
The bride so pure and true
He took unto himself in haughty mood;
And all the paltry world applauding stood,
Though well it knew;
He took unto himself in haughty mood;
And all the paltry world applauding stood,
Though well it knew;
The while in frost and snow
Half-clad she stood upon whose maiden breast
He pledged his faith, for love's supremest test,
In joy and woe.
Half-clad she stood upon whose maiden breast
He pledged his faith, for love's supremest test,
In joy and woe.
| Idyls of Norway and other poems | |