Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Richard Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton. 1809–1885710. Shadows
THEY seem’d, to those who saw them meet, | |
The casual friends of every day; | |
Her smile was undisturb’d and sweet, | |
His courtesy was free and gay. | |
But yet if one the other’s name | 5 |
In some unguarded moment heard, | |
The heart you thought so calm and tame | |
Would struggle like a captured bird: | |
And letters of mere formal phrase | |
Were blister’d with repeated tears,— | 10 |
And this was not the work of days, | |
But had gone on for years and years! | |
Alas, that love was not too strong | |
For maiden shame and manly pride! | |
Alas, that they delay’d so long | 15 |
The goal of mutual bliss beside! | |
Yet what no chance could then reveal, | |
And neither would be first to own, | |
Let fate and courage now conceal, | |
When truth could bring remorse alone. | 20 |