Viii

WE’LL go no more a-roving by the light of the moon. November glooms are barren beside the dusk of June. The summer flowers are faded, the summer thoughts are sere. We’ll go no more a-roving, lest worse befall, my dear.

We’ll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon. The song we sang rings hollow, and heavy runs the tune. Glad ways and words remembered would shame the wretched year. We’ll go no more a-roving, nor dream we did, my dear.

We’ll go no more a-roving by the light of the moon. If yet we walk together, we need not shun the noon. No sweet thing left to savour, no sad thing left to fear, We’ll go no more a-roving, but weep at home, my dear.

1875

IX To W. R.

MADAM Life’s a piece in bloom Death goes dogging everywhere: She’s the tenant of the room, He’s the ruffian on the stair.

You shall see her as a friend, You shall bilk him once and twice; But he’ll trap you in the end, And he’ll stick you for her price.

With his kneebones at your chest, And his knuckles in your throat, You would reason—plead—protest! Clutching at her petticoat;

But she’s heard it all before, Well she knows you’ve had your fun, Gingerly she gains the door, And your little job is done.

1877