So those four abode Within one house together; and as years Went forward, Mary took another mate; Dut Dora lived unmarried till her death. AUDLEY COURT. "THE Bull, the Fleece are cramm'd, and not a room For love or money. Let us picnic there At Audley Court." I spoke, while Audley feast Humm'd like a hive all round the narrow quay, To Francis, with a basket on his arm, To Francis just alighted from the boat, And breathing of the sea. "With all my heart," Said Francis. Then we shoulder'd through the swarm, And rounded by the stillness of the beach To where the bay runs up its latest horn. Of meadow smooth from aftermath we reach'd There, on a slope of orchard, Francis laid And came again together on the king With heated faces; till he laugh'd aloud; And, while the blackbird on the pippin hung To hear him, clapp'd his hand in mine and sang"Oh! who would fight and march and countermarch, Be shot for sixpence in a battle-field, And shovell'd up into a bloody trench Where no one knows? but let me live my life. "Oh! who would cast and balance at a desk, Perch'd like a crow upon a three-legg'd stool, Till all his juice is dried, and all his joints Are full of chalk ? but let me live my life. "Who'd serve the state? for if I carved my name Upon the cliffs that guard my native land, I might as well have traced it in the sands ; The sea wastes all but let me live my life. "Oh! who would love? I woo'd a woman once, But she was sharper than an eastern wind, He sang his song, and I replied with mine, Knock'd down to me, when old Sir Robert's pride, Came to the hammer here in March-and this I set the words, and added names I knew. "Sleep, Ellen Aubrey, sleep, and dream of me, Sleep, Ellen, folded in thy sister's arm, And sleeping, haply dream her arm is mine. 66 Sleep, Ellen, folded in Emilia's arm, Emilia, fairer than all else but thou, For thou art fairer than all else that is. 66 Sleep, breathing health and peace upon her breast. Sleep, breathing love and trust against her lip, I go to-night I come to-morrow morn. "I go, but I return: I would I were The pilot of the darkness and the dream. Did what I would; but ere the night we rose |