Page:Aurora Leigh a Poem.djvu/173

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AURORA LEIGH.
Was that his face I saw? . . his . . Romney Leigh's . .Which tossed a sudden horror like a spongeInto all eyes,—while himself stood white uponThe topmost altar-stair, and tried to speak,And failed, and lifted higher above his headA letter, . . as a man who drowns and gasps.
'My brothers, bear with me! I am very weak.I meant but only good. Perhaps I meantToo proudly,—and God snatched the circumstanceAnd changed it therefore. There's no marriage—noneShe leaves me,—she departs,—she disappears,—I lose her. Yet I never forced her 'ay'To have her 'no' so cast into my teethIn manner of an accusation, thus.My friends, you are all dismissed. Go, eat and drinkAccording to the programme,—and farewell!'
He ended. There was silence in the church;We heard a baby sucking in its sleepAt the farthest end of the aisle. Then spoke a man,'Now, look to it, coves, that all the beef and drinkBe not filched from us like the other fun;For beer's spilt easier than a woman is!This gentry is not honest with the poor;They bring us up, to trick us.'—'Go it, Jim,'A woman screamed back,—'I'm a tender soul;I never banged a child at two years oldAnd drew blood from him, but I sobbed for itNext moment,—and I've had a plague of seven.
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