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。