第1章

Fromoffahillwhoseconcavewombreworded

Aplaintfulstoryfromasist"ringvale，

Myspiritst"attendthisdoublevoiceaccorded，

AnddownIlaidtolistthesad—tunedtale，

Erelongespiedaficklemaidfullpale，

Tearingofpapers，breakingringsatwain，

Stormingherworldwithsorrow"swindandrain。

Uponherheadaplattedhiveofstraw，

Whichfortifiedhervisagefromthesun，

Whereonthethoughtmightthinksometimeitsaw

Thecarcaseofabeautyspentanddone。

Timehadnotscythedallthatyouthbegun，

Noryouthallquit，butspiteofheaven"sfellrage

Somebeautypeepedthroughlatticeofsearedage。

Oftdidsheheavehernapkintohereyne，

Whichonithadconceitedcharacters，

Laund"ringthesilkenfiguresinthebrine

Thatseasonedwoehadpelletedintears，

Andoftenreadingwhatcontentsitbears;

Asoftenshriekingundistinguishedwoe，

Inclamoursofallsize，bothhighandlow。

Sometimesherlevelledeyestheircarriageride，

Astheydidbatt"rytothespheresintend;

Sometimedivertedtheirpoorballsaretied

Toth"orbedearth;sometimestheydoextend

Theirviewrighton;anontheirgazeslend

Toeveryplaceatonce，andnowherefixed，

Themindandsightdistractedlycommixed。

Herhair，norloosenortiedinformalplat，

Proclaimedinheracarelesshandofpride;

Forsome，untucked，descendedhersheavedhat，

Hangingherpaleandpinedcheekbeside;

Someinherthreadenfilletstilldidbide，

And，truetobondage，wouldnotbreakfromthence，

Thoughslacklybraidedinloosenegligence。

Athousandfavoursfromamaundshedrew

Ofamber，crystal，andofbeadedjet，

Whichonebyonesheinariverthrew，

Uponwhoseweepingmargentshewasset;

Likeusuryapplyingwettowet，

Ormonarchs"handsthatletsnotbountyfall

Wherewantcriessome，butwhereexcessbegsall。

Offoldedscheduleshadshemanyaone，

Whichsheperused，sighed，tore，andgavetheflood;

Crackedmanyaringofposiedgoldandbone，

Biddingthemfindtheirsepulchresinmud;

Foundyetmoeletterssadlypennedinblood，

Withsleidedsilkfeatandaffectedly

Enswathedandsealedtocurioussecrecy。

Theseoftenbathedsheinherfluxiveeyes，

Andoftenkissed，andoften"gantotear;

Cried，"Ofalseblood，thouregisteroflies，

Whatunapprovedwitnessdostthoubear!

Inkwouldhaveseemedmoreblackanddamnedhere!

Thissaid，intopofragethelinessherents，

Bigdiscontentssobreakingtheircontents。

Areverendmanthatgrazedhiscattlenigh，

Sometimeablustererthattheruffleknew

Ofcourt，ofcity，andhadletgoby

Theswiftesthoursobservedastheyflew，

Towardsthisafflictedfancyfastlydrew;

And，privilegedbyage，desirestoknow

Inbriefthegroundsandmotivesofherwoe。

Soslideshedownuponhisgrainedbat，

Andcomelydistantsitshebyherside;

Whenheagaindesiresher，beingsat，

Hergrievancewithhishearingtodivide。

Ifthatfromhimtheremaybeaughtapplied

Whichmayhersufferingecstasyassuage，

"Tispromisedinthecharityofage。

"Father，"shesays，"thoughinmeyoubehold

Theinjuryofmanyablastinghour，

LetitnottellyourjudgementIamold：

Notage，butsorrow，overmehathpower。

Imightasyethavebeenaspreadingflower，

Freshtomyself，ifIhadself—applied

Lovetomyself，andtonolovebeside。

"Butwoeisme!tooearlyIattended

Ayouthfulsuit—itwastogainmygrace—

O，onebynature"soutwardssocommended

Thatmaidens"eyesstuckoverallhisface。

Lovelackedadwellingandmadehimherplace;

Andwheninhisfairpartsshedidabide，

Shewasnewlodgedandnewlydeified。

"Hisbrownylocksdidhangincrookedcurls;

Andeverylightoccasionofthewind

Uponhislipstheirsilkenparcelshurls。

What"ssweettodo，todowillaptlyfind：

Eacheyethatsawhimdidenchantthemind;

Foronhisvisagewasinlittledrawn

WhatlargenessthinksinParadisewassawn。

"Smallshowofmanwasyetuponhischin;

Hisphoenixdownbeganbuttoappear，

Likeunshornvelvet，onthattermlessskin，

Whosebareout—braggedthewebitseemedtowear：

Yetshowedhisvisagebythatcostmoredear;

Andniceaffectionswaveringstoodindoubt

Ifbestwereasitwas，orbestwithout。

"Hisqualitieswerebeauteousashisform，

Formaiden—tonguedhewas，andthereoffree;

Yetifmenmovedhim，washesuchastorm

Asoft"twixtMayandAprilistosee，

Whenwindsbreathesweet，unrulythoughtheybe。

Hisrudenesssowithhisauthorizedyouth

Didliveryfalsenessinaprideoftruth。

"Wellcouldheride，andoftenmenwouldsay，

"Thathorsehismettlefromhisridertakes：

Proudofsubjection，noblebythesway，

Whatrounds，whatbounds，whatcourse，whatstophemakes!"

Andcontroversyhenceaquestiontakes

Whetherthehorsebyhimbecamehisdeed，

Orhehismanagebyth"well—doingsteed。

"Butquicklyonthissidetheverdictwent：

Hisrealhabitudegavelifeandgrace

Toappertainingsandtoornament，

Accomplishedinhimself，notinhiscase，

Allaids，themselvesmadefairerbytheirplace，

Cameforadditions;yettheirpurposedtrim

Piercednothisgrace，butwereallgracedbyhim。

"Soonthetipofhissubduingtongue

Allkindofargumentsandquestiondeep，

Allreplicationprompt，andreasonstrong，

Forhisadvantagestilldidwakeandsleep。