 | Collected poems of Thomas Hardy |  |
THE HUSBAND'S VIEW
“Can anything avail
Beldame, for my hid grief?—
Listen: I'll tell the tale,
It may bring faint relief!—
Beldame, for my hid grief?—
Listen: I'll tell the tale,
It may bring faint relief!—
“I came where I was not known
In hope to flee my sin;
And walking forth alone
A young man said, ‘Good e'en,’
In hope to flee my sin;
And walking forth alone
A young man said, ‘Good e'en,’
“In gentle voice and true
He asked to marry me;
‘You only—only you
Fulfil my dream!’ said he.
He asked to marry me;
‘You only—only you
Fulfil my dream!’ said he.
“We married o'Monday morn,
In the month of hay and flowers;
My cares were nigh forsworn,
And perfect love was ours.
In the month of hay and flowers;
My cares were nigh forsworn,
And perfect love was ours.
“But ere the days are long
Untimely fruit will show;
My Love keeps up his song,
Undreaming it is so.
Untimely fruit will show;
My Love keeps up his song,
Undreaming it is so.
“And I awake in the night,
And think of months gone by,
And of that cause of flight
Hidden from my Love's eye.
And think of months gone by,
And of that cause of flight
Hidden from my Love's eye.
233
“Discovery borders near,
And then! . . . But something stirred?—
My husband—he is here!
Heaven—has he overheard?”—
And then! . . . But something stirred?—
My husband—he is here!
Heaven—has he overheard?”—
“Yes; I have heard, sweet Nan;
I have known it all the time.
I am not a particular man;
Misfortunes are no crime:
I have known it all the time.
I am not a particular man;
Misfortunes are no crime:
“And what with our serious need
Of sons for soldiering,
That accident, indeed,
To maids, is a useful thing!”
Of sons for soldiering,
That accident, indeed,
To maids, is a useful thing!”
| Collected poems of Thomas Hardy | |