TOO LATE. 1. HERE was I with my arm and heart And brain, all yours for a word, a want While mine, to repay it . . . vainest vaunt, From the churchyard neither, miles removed, Though I feel by a pulse within my cheek, Which stabs and stops, that the woman I loved Needs help in her grave and finds none near, Wants warmth from the heart which sends it — so! 2. Did I speak once angrily, all the drear days You lived, you woman I loved so well, Who married the other? Blame or praise, Where was the use then? Time would tell, And the end declare what man for you, What woman for me was the choice of God. I used to sit and look at my life A great stone stopped it: oh, the strife 3. But either I thought, "They may churn and chide And found this horrible stone full-tide: And my waves no longer champ nor chafe, Since a stone will have rolled from its place: let be!" 4. But, dead! All's done with: wait who may, Oh, my soul's sentence, sounding still, "The woman is dead, that was none of his ; And the man, that was none of hers, may go!" There's only the past left: worry that! Wreak, like a bull, on the empty coat, Rage, its late wearer is laughing at ! Tear the collar to rags, having missed his throat; Strike stupidly on-"This, this, and this, Where I would that a bosom received the blow!" 5. I ought to have done more: once my speech, Why, men do more to deserve a friend, Be rid of a foe, get rich, grow wise, Nor, folding their arms, stare fate in the face. And borne you away to a rock for us two Myself in that moment; a ruffian lies Somewhere your slave, see, born in his place!" 6. What did the other do? You be judge! Look at us, Edith! Here are we both! Give him his six whole years: I grudge None of the life with you, nay, I loathe Myself that I grudged his start in advance Of me who could overtake and pass. But, as if he loved you! No, not he, Nor anyone else in the world, 't is plain : Who ever heard that another, free As I, young, prosperous, sound, and sane, Poured life out, proffered it" Half a glance Of those eyes of yours and I drop the glass!" 7. Handsome, were you? 'Tis more than they held, More than they said; I was 'ware and watched: I was the 'scapegrace, this rat belled The cat, this fool got his whiskers scratched: The others? No head that was turned, no heart Broken, my lady, assure yourself! Each soon made his mind up; so and so Married a dancer, such and such Stole his friend's wife, stagnated slow, Or maundered, unable to do as much, And muttered of peace where he had no part: 8. On the whole, you were let alone, I think! Loved you and doved you— did not I laugh! There was a prize! But we both were tried. Oh, heart of mine, marked broad with her mark, Tekel, found wanting, set aside, Scorned! See, I bleed these tears in the dark Till comfort come and the last be bled: He? He is tagging your epitaph. 9. If it would only come over again! -Time to be patient with me, and probe This heart till you punctured the proper vein, Just to learn what blood is: twitch the robe From that blank lay-figure your fancy draped, verses spirt! Prick the leathern heart till the |