Томас Харди (Гарди) Satires of Circumstance, Lyrics and Reveries, with Miscellaneous Pieces
THE DEATH OF REGRET
I opened my shutter at sunrise, And looked at the hill hard by, And I heartily grieved for the comrade Who wandered up there to die.
I let in the morn on the morrow, And failed not to think of him then, As he trod up that rise in the twilight, And never came down again.
I undid the shutter a week thence, But not until after I’d turned Did I call back his last departure By the upland there discerned.
Uncovering the casement long later, I bent to my toil till the gray, When I said to myself, “Ah – what ails me, To forget him all the day!”
As daily I flung back the shutter In the same blank bald routine, He scarcely once rose to remembrance Through a month of my facing the scene.
And ah, seldom now do I ponder At the window as heretofore On the long valued one who died yonder, And wastes by the sycamore.
IN THE DAYS OF CRINOLINE
A plain tilt-bonnet on her head She took the path across the leaze. – Her spouse the vicar, gardening, said, “Too dowdy that, for coquetries, So I can hoe at ease.”
But when she had passed into the heath, And gained the wood beyond the flat, She raised her skirts, and from beneath Unpinned and drew as from a sheath An ostrich-feathered hat.
And where the hat had hung she now Concealed and pinned the dowdy hood, And set the hat upon her brow, And thus emerging from the wood Tripped on in jaunty mood.
The sun was low and crimson-faced As two came that way from the town, And plunged into the wood untraced. When separately therefrom they paced The sun had quite gone down.
The hat and feather disappeared, The dowdy hood again was donned, And in the gloom the fair one neared Her home and husband dour, who conned Calmly his blue-eyed blonde.
“To-day,” he said, “you have shown good sense, A dress so modest and so meek Should always deck your goings hence Alone.” And as a recompense He kissed her on the cheek.
THE ROMAN GRAVEMOUNDS
By Rome’s dim relics there walks a man, Eyes bent; and he carries a basket and spade; I guess what impels him to scrape and scan; Yea, his dreams of that Empire long decayed.
“Vast was Rome,” he must muse, “in the world’s regard, Vast it looms there still, vast it ever will be;” And he stoops as to dig and unmine some shard Left by those who are held in such memory.
But no; in his basket, see, he has brought A little white furred thing, stiff of limb, Whose life never won from the world a thought; It is this, and not Rome, that is moving him.
And to make it a grave he has come to the spot, And he delves in the ancient dead’s long home; Their fames, their achievements, the man knows not; The furred thing is all to him – nothing Rome!
“Here say you that Cæsar’s warriors lie? — But my little white cat was my only friend! Could she but live, might the record die Of Cæsar, his legions, his aims, his end!”
Well, Rome’s long rule here is oft and again A theme for the sages of history, And the small furred life was worth no one’s pen; Yet its mourner’s mood has a charm for me.
November 1910.
THE WORKBOX
“See, here’s the workbox, little wife, That I made of polished oak.” He was a joiner, of village life; She came of borough folk.
He holds the present up to her As with a smile she nears And answers to the profferer, “’Twill last all my sewing years!”
“I warrant it will. And longer too. ’Tis a scantling that I got Off poor John Wayward’s coffin, who Died of they knew not what.
“The shingled pattern that seems to cease Against your box’s rim Continues right on in the piece That’s underground with him.
“And while I worked it made me think Of timber’s varied doom; One inch where people eat and drink, The next inch in a tomb.
“But why do you look so white, my dear, And turn aside your face? You knew not that good lad, I fear, Though he came from your native place?”
“How could I know that good young man, Though he came from my native town, When he must have left there earlier than I was a woman grown?”
“Ah no. I should have understood! It shocked you that I gave To you one end of a piece of wood Whose other is in a grave?”
“Don’t, dear, despise my intellect, Mere accidental things Of that sort never have effect On my imaginings.”
Yet still her lips were limp and wan, Her face still held aside, As if she had known not only John, But known of what he died.
THE SACRILEGE A BALLAD-TRAGEDY (Circa 182-)
Part I
“I have a Love I love too well Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor; I have a Love I love too well, To whom, ere she was mine, ‘Such is my love for you,’ I said, ‘That you shall have to hood your head A silken kerchief crimson-red, Wove finest of the fine.’
“And since this Love, for one mad moon, On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor, Since this my Love for one mad moon Did clasp me as her king, I snatched a silk-piece red and rare From off a stall at Priddy Fair, For handkerchief to hood her hair When we went gallanting.
“Full soon the four weeks neared their end Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor; And when the four weeks neared their end, And their swift sweets outwore, I said, ‘What shall I do to own Those beauties bright as tulips blown, And keep you here with me alone As mine for evermore?’
“And as she drowsed within my van On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor — And as she drowsed within my van, And dawning turned to day, She heavily raised her sloe-black eyes And murmured back in softest wise, ‘One more thing, and the charms you prize Are yours henceforth for aye.
“‘And swear I will I’ll never go While Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor To meet the Cornish Wrestler Joe For dance and dallyings. If you’ll to yon cathedral shrine, And finger from the chest divine Treasure to buy me ear-drops fine, And richly jewelled rings.’
“I said: ‘I am one who has gathered gear From Marlbury Downs to Dunkery Tor, Who has gathered gear for many a year From mansion, mart and fair; But at God’s house I’ve stayed my hand, Hearing within me some command — Curbed by a law not of the land From doing damage there.’
“Whereat she pouts, this Love of mine, As Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor, And still she pouts, this Love of mine, So cityward I go. But ere I start to do the thing, And speed my soul’s imperilling For one who is my ravishing And all the joy I know,
“I come to lay this charge on thee — On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor — I come to lay this charge on thee With solemn speech and sign: Should things go ill, and my life pay For botchery in this rash assay, You are to take hers likewise – yea, The month the law takes mine.
“For should my rival, Wrestler Joe, Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor — My reckless rival, Wrestler Joe, My Love’s possessor be, My tortured spirit would not rest, But wander weary and distrest Throughout the world in wild protest: The thought nigh maddens me!”
Part II
Thus did he speak – this brother of mine — On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor, Born at my birth of mother of mine, And forthwith went his way To dare the deed some coming night. I kept the watch with shaking sight, The moon at moments breaking bright, At others glooming gray.
For three full days I heard no sound Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor, I heard no sound at all around Whether his fay prevailed, Or one malign the master were, Till some afoot did tidings bear How that, for all his practised care, He had been caught and jailed.
They had heard a crash when twelve had chimed By Mendip east of Dunkery Tor, When twelve had chimed and moonlight climbed; They watched, and he was tracked By arch and aisle and saint and knight Of sculptured stonework sheeted white In the cathedral’s ghostly light, And captured in the act.
Yes; for this Love he loved too well Where Dunkery sights the Severn shore, All for this Love he loved too well He burst the holy bars, Seized golden vessels from the chest To buy her ornaments of the best, At her ill-witchery’s request And lure of eyes like stars.
When blustering March confused the sky In Toneborough Town by Exon Moor, When blustering March confused the sky They stretched him; and he died. Down in the crowd where I, to see The end of him, stood silently, With a set face he lipped to me — “Remember.” “Ay!” I cried.
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.
“What fearful visions have inspired These gaingivings?” his wife inquired;
“As if your tools were in your hand You have hammered, fitted, muttered, planned;
“You have thumped as you were working hard: I might have found me bruised and scarred.
“What then’s amiss. What eating care Looms nigh, whereof I am unaware?”
He answered not, but churchward went, Viewing his draughts with discontent;
And fumbled there the livelong day Till, hollow-eyed, he came away.
– ’Twas said, “The master-mason’s ill!” And all the abbey works stood still.