Page:Enoch Arden, etc - Tennyson - 1864.djvu/94

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AYLMER’S FIELD.
Writhing a letter from his child, for whichCame at the moment Leolin's emissary,A crippled lad, and coming turn'd to fly,But scared with threats of jail and halter gaveTo him that fluster'd his poor parish witsThe letter which he brought, and swore besidesTo play their go-between as heretoforeNor let them know themselves betray'd; and then,Soul-stricken at their kindness to him, wentHating his own lean heart and miserable.
 Thenceforward oft from out a despot dreamThe father panting woke, and oft, as dawnAroused the black republic on his elms,Sweeping the frothfly from the fescue brush'dThro' the dim meadow toward his treasure-trove,Seized it, took home, and to my lady,—who madeA downward crescent of her minion mouth,Listless in all despondence,—read; and tore,As if the living passion symbol'd there
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