The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott Edited by his Son Edwin Elliott ... A New and Revised Edition: Two Volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott |  |
129
HE CAME.
At length he came. None welcomed him;
The decent door was closed;
But near it stood a matron meek,
With pensive looks, composed:
She knew his face, though it was changed,
And gloom came o'er her brow;
“They're gone,” she said, “but you're in time;
They're in the churchyard now.”
The decent door was closed;
But near it stood a matron meek,
With pensive looks, composed:
She knew his face, though it was changed,
And gloom came o'er her brow;
“They're gone,” she said, “but you're in time;
They're in the churchyard now.”
He reach'd the grave, and sternly bade
The impatient shovel wait:
“Ann Spencer, agèd twenty-five,”
He read upon the plate.
“Why did'st thou seek a foreign land,
And leave me here to die?”
The sad inscriptions seem'd to say—
But he made no reply.
The impatient shovel wait:
“Ann Spencer, agèd twenty-five,”
He read upon the plate.
“Why did'st thou seek a foreign land,
And leave me here to die?”
The sad inscriptions seem'd to say—
But he made no reply.
Her mother saw him through her tears,
But not a word she said—
Nor could he know that days had pass'd
Since last she tasted bread.
She stood in comely mourning there,
Self-stay'd in her distress;
The dead maid's toil bought earth and prayer;
Sleep on, proud Britoness!
But not a word she said—
Nor could he know that days had pass'd
Since last she tasted bread.
130
Self-stay'd in her distress;
The dead maid's toil bought earth and prayer;
Sleep on, proud Britoness!
But thou, meet parent of the dead!
Where now wilt thou abide?
With William in a foreign land;
Or by thy daughter's side?
Oh! William's broken heart is sworn
To cross no more the foam!
Full soon will men cry—“Hark! again!
Three now! they're all at home!”
Where now wilt thou abide?
With William in a foreign land;
Or by thy daughter's side?
Oh! William's broken heart is sworn
To cross no more the foam!
Full soon will men cry—“Hark! again!
Three now! they're all at home!”
| The Poetical Works of Ebenezer Elliott | |