By night and day I shadowed her From Toneborough Deane to Dunkery Tor, I shadowed her asleep, astir, And yet I could not bear— Till Wrestler Joe anon began To figure as her chosen man, And took her to his shining van— To doom a form so fair!
He made it handsome for her sake— And Dunkery smiled to Exon Moor— He made it handsome for her sake, Painting it out and in; And on the door of apple-green A bright brass knocker soon was seen, And window-curtains white and clean For her to sit within.
And all could see she clave to him As cleaves a cloud to Dunkery Tor, Yea, all could see she clave to him, And every day I said, “A pity it seems to part those two That hourly grow to love more true: Yet she’s the wanton woman who Sent one to swing till dead!”
That blew to blazing all my hate, While Dunkery frowned on Exon Moor, And when the river swelled, her fate Came to her pitilessly . . . I dogged her, crying: “Across that plank They use as bridge to reach yon bank A coat and hat lie limp and dank; Your goodman’s, can they be?”
She paled, and went, I close behind— And Exon frowned to Dunkery Tor, She went, and I came up behind And tipped the plank that bore Her, fleetly flitting across to eye What such might bode. She slid awry; And from the current came a cry, A gurgle; and no more.
How that befell no mortal knew From Marlbury Downs to Exon Moor; No mortal knew that deed undue But he who schemed the crime, Which night still covers . . . But in dream Those ropes of hair upon the stream He sees, and he will hear that scream Until his judgment-time.
THE ABBEY MASON (_Inventor of the_ “_Perpendicular_” _Style of Gothic Architecture_)
THE new-vamped Abbey shaped apace In the fourteenth century of grace;
(The church which, at an after date, Acquired cathedral rank and state.)
Panel and circumscribing wall Of latest feature, trim and tall,
Rose roundabout the Norman core In prouder pose than theretofore,
Encasing magically the old With parpend ashlars manifold.
The trowels rang out, and tracery Appeared where blanks had used to be.
Men toiled for pleasure more than pay, And all went smoothly day by day,
Till, in due course, the transept part Engrossed the master-mason’s art.
—Home-coming thence he tossed and turned Throughout the night till the new sun burned.