 | Eclogues and monodramas |  |
89
She faltered, ending thus, and dimmed his sight:
Yet at his brain, while moister grew his eyes,
A selfish instinct came. As one at bay,
Environed with self-wrought perplexities,
Sees some escape, unhoped for, thrust at him,
And, good or evil, grasps it—So with James,
Chancing on sudden outlet, eager flashed
Suggestion to ensure it:
Yet at his brain, while moister grew his eyes,
A selfish instinct came. As one at bay,
Environed with self-wrought perplexities,
Sees some escape, unhoped for, thrust at him,
And, good or evil, grasps it—So with James,
Chancing on sudden outlet, eager flashed
Suggestion to ensure it:
‘When I came,
And found you, Mary, listening in soft light,
Strong love thrust out all hazards to conclude
Thy fate and mine together. But thy words,
Children of wisdom, wisely have imposed
Some rein of caution on the sudden heart,
That rushes blindly to its end, with guide,
Save heated fancy, none. I now reverse
My former mind: I see that wait we must:
Wait in no rash endeavour to foresee
The sequel, or precipitate the close:
And yours to bend this mother to delay
Our stolid miller's suit, too mean to raise
Much anger, else abhorred: allege, you can,
A peck of girlish reasons. Love, take heart;
Be, love demands it, in entreaty brave;
And all shall prosper nobly, when I win
My mother down to reason from her pride.’
And found you, Mary, listening in soft light,
Strong love thrust out all hazards to conclude
Thy fate and mine together. But thy words,
Children of wisdom, wisely have imposed
Some rein of caution on the sudden heart,
That rushes blindly to its end, with guide,
Save heated fancy, none. I now reverse
My former mind: I see that wait we must:
Wait in no rash endeavour to foresee
The sequel, or precipitate the close:
And yours to bend this mother to delay
90
Much anger, else abhorred: allege, you can,
A peck of girlish reasons. Love, take heart;
Be, love demands it, in entreaty brave;
And all shall prosper nobly, when I win
My mother down to reason from her pride.’
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